The Health Innovation and Wellbeing Research Community and CHERISH Support are delivering a virtual CHERISH Carers Workshop.
University of Westminster CHERISH: Caring for University students’ mental health and wellbeing.
To mark Carers Week 2021, the University of Westminster would like to invite you to our CHERISH carers event on Thursday 10th June 2021, which aims to raise awareness of people caring and supporting individuals who may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health and/or wellbeing.
While poor mental health has been on the rise for several years, it has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, placing greater demand on supportive provisions from professionals, charities, and organisations. In addition, friends, family members, colleagues, and many others are finding themselves in a supporter or carer role. While this can be a rewarding experience, it can also be overwhelming. It is important that supporters and carers look after their mental health and wellbeing and feel supported in their role.
The CHERISH Carers Workshop, organised with the support of the Health Innovation and Wellbeing Research Community, will offer a variety of talks and panel discussions from academics, persons with lived experience, and professionals working in different sectors to support mental health.
We'll cover topics focused on the diversity of what a supportive role may look like, ranging from informal to professional experiences, ways to look after yourself as a supporter or carer, and discussions about the role organisations such as Universities, charities, health care services can play in supporting supporters and carers.
Some of the speakers include:
- Dr. Dominique Thompson – an award-winning GP, young people’s mental health expert, TEDx speaker, author and educator, with over 20 years of clinical experience caring for students
- Sally Olohan (MBE) – Head of Student Support and Residential Life at University of Westminster. Expert in higher education student support and wellbeing issues, with experience in service design, policy and strategy development
- Dr. Kathryn Waddington – Reader in Psychology. Author of the book 'Towards the compassionate university: From golden thread to global impact'; University of Westminster
- Laura Culshaw – Doctoral student and assistant psychologist in the NHS research focuses understand self-harm amongst University students; University of Westminster
- Tina Cartwright – Reader and Registered Health Psychologists, specialised in the role of yoga and meditation in facilitating health and wellbeing; University of Westminster
- Andy Norris – Head of Culture and Inclusion at University of Westminster
The session will be recorded.
