The University of Westminster recently supported two mental health and wellbeing events: the University Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week. Both events sought to highlight the impact and importance of movement on mental health and wellbeing.
Mental Health Awareness Week took place in May and was run by the Mental Health Foundation. The nationwide campaign aimed at bringing together a wide portion of society to encourage and support achieving good mental health.
Along with this Westminster supported University Mental Health Day in March. Run by Student Minds and University Mental Health Adviser’s Network (UMHAN), it encouraged universities to come together and focus on student mental health. This day was first piloted in 2008 to raise visibility of mental health and wellbeing on university campuses and help break down the stigma associated with mental health.
For Mental Health Awareness Week, students had the opportunity to watch two webinars run by Harrow Talking Therapies and Westminster Talking Therapies. The talks focused on the importance of movement on mental health and wellbeing and the practical steps people can take to start including more movement into their daily routine.
The University also marked the Week by talking to Mental Health Champion and alumnus Hussain Manawer in an interview about mental health.
Along with this students and colleagues had the chance to join one of two exercise sessions on University Mental Health Day at Harrow Campus and Marylebone Campus. Teaming up with Francis Poku, Duty Manager and Personal Trainer from the Regent’s Street Gym, students and colleagues alike could join an energising boxing session, or a more relaxing yoga session run in collaboration with the SU Yoga Society.
A range of freebies, leaflets and resources could be picked up on either day and people from across the Westminster community had the opportunity to speak to a variety of staff members from the University, ranging from student advice to counselling.
Present on the day at both sites were a range of external services focused on supporting students' mental health, including talking therapies, GP services and people from the mental health charity James' Place. Colleagues and students could also pick up a piece of fruit or a University Mental Health Day cupcake at either site.
To encourage movement, smoothie bikes were available throughout the day and gave colleagues and students the chance to pick up a free smoothie powered by a one-minute bike ride. This was also paired with a pink elephant named Ellie who was present at Harrow to encourage the University of Westminster to get talking about ‘the elephant in the room’ - mental health.
Chloe Phillip-Haroun, Student Support Development Officer at the University of Westminster, said: "Both events directly contributed to the University of Westminster's goals regarding implementing and embedding the Student Wellbeing Framework and the current work being done towards achieving the University Mental Health Charter."
Both events also directly contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out about support and services available at the University of Westminster.
