Mental Wealth UK Blog

Updates from the 25by2012 campaign, and all those involved

Tomorrow Is University Mental Health & Wellbeing Day!

Twelve months ago I was invited to an UMHAN meeting, along with a representative from Time To Change. We discussed how we might go about creating aligned, coordinated approaches to mental health promotion on university campuses, and the conversation turned to the possibility of launching a national awareness day. 

There are a lot of awareness days, some say too many. Many of these seem to be nothing more than ways of promoting a particular charity, and are lacking in substance. What excited me about the idea of a university mental health day was that it wouldn't be all talk, and it wouldn't be about promoting any one organisational agenda. There are hundreds of people and groups on campus that are doing things to promote mental health already; this would be a way of putting a date in the calendar when everyone's activities could be coordinated, thereby multiplying the impact. 

One of the criticisms of the idea was that, by promoting one particular day, the event might decrease the amount of promotional activity throughout the rest of the calendar. This is possible, but it's also a cynical view to take. If the right attitude is brought to the day, and useful resources are provided, then I think it can serve as a springboard for greater activities throughout the rest of the year. 

Fortunately others shared this view and after months of trying to initiate the day, it's finally being launched tomorrow, the 22nd of February 2012. After a lot of work from UMHAN - and in particular Sarah Ashworth of Warwick - around 25 universities will be running events to recognise the day, with support from Time To Change, Mindapples, Mental Wealth UK, and other organisations. Well done to all those that have organised something. 

University Mental Health & Wellbeing Day is a day when university wellbeing stakeholders can unite, put aside individual concerns, and work together to make campuses healthier, happier places for all of those involved with higher education. 

Here's an incomplete list of university events taking place tomorrow:

Introducing the Mental Wealth Foundation

As well as recognising the 25by2012 campaign, Saturday's event marked the launch of the Mental Wealth Foundation, which will - subject to approval from the Charities Commission - provide continued support to the UK's network of student Mental Wealth groups, and extend it's vision beyond the limits of UK higher education. 

When the first Mental Wealth group was launched back in late 2008, the mission statement on it's manifesto read, 'promoting mental health & wellbeing on campus and beyond'. We put the 'and beyond' on the end because we thought it was important to think of universities in the context of wider society. The changes to higher education over the past 12 months have supported this view. 

The economic crisis and government reforms have stirred up higher education, bringing mass protests, rising graduate unemployment, and, according to figures released last week, a drop in university applicants. All of this is having a significant effect on the wellbeing of students, graduates, and young people - influencing their aspirations and future prospects. As a result, those concerned with the education and wellbeing of young people, are being forced to take a step back and look at the role that the higher education plays in the support and development of the young. 

With this in mind, the Mental Wealth Foundation sets out to promote youth wellbeing and support youth-led wellbeing initiatives. The charity's 'promoting' and 'supporting' activities will primarily be delivered through structured programs consisting of advocacy, awards, training, and mentoring. A key part of this will be supporting the growing network of Mental Wealth groups around the UK. But, when capacity allows, it will also include using the learnings from this network to reach other young people, within the UK, and perhaps also outside of it. 

The introduction of the Mental Wealth Foundation represents the third stage since this national work began in 2009. Back then, it was known as the Mental Wealth Project, with the basic aim of advising universities on how to set up a student group similar to the one started in Leeds. In 2010 we launched Mental Wealth UK as a membership body for these groups. With the launch of the Mental Wealth Foundation this network of groups will continue to be known as 'Mental Wealth UK', but it will be supported by an office with charitable status and with the capacity to drive the vision of the work forward. Running through the three year history of 'Mental Wealth' is the same simple aim: to connect young people with the resources to thrive. 

The infrastructure for the charity is steadily being developed, but there's still some way to go before it's up and running. There's a trustee board to extend, staff to recruit, and funding to secure. To support the charity, and keep up to date on developments, please join the mailing list here or contact us at home[at]mwfnd.org.