Episode 019: Ideas in Academic Practice: Structures of Wellbeing in Learning and Teaching

Hello and welcome to episode 19 of the Learning & Teaching @ Newcastle University podcast.

Transcript available

In this episode Dr Paul Fleet (Chair of the Academic Progress Board of Studies at Newcastle University), and Kate Aitchison (Head of Student Health & Wellbeing) talk about the importance of embedding structures of wellbeing into Higher Education for the benefit of all stakeholders.

As academics, professional staff, and students we are acutely aware and encounter health and wellbeing issues in the workplace on a daily basis.  The discussion begins by discussing pressures upon students and colleagues and where the sources of information come from that inform and recognise where wellbeing support is needed.  Building a picture of a concern or of good practice can often be isolated to a smaller group and it is important to ensure linkage between people and services both internally and in the wider community.  As the conversation progresses, an outline of a structure that was piloted in the School of Arts and Cultures and was later presented at the SMaRteN Conference in Cambridge on 17th December 2019 as a leading case study of good practice.

This podcast is for anyone involved in higher education (staff and students) and makes reference to research-driven ideas and practice to support the community of scholars who are committed to delivering wellbeing support across the academic journey off all who work in HE.

For more information on Newcastle University’s Student Wellbeing Service please visit: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/wellbeing/ and if you want to know more about the SACS Circles you can contact paul.fleet@ncl.ac.uk or kate.aitchison@newcastle.ac.uk 

This is part of a suite of podcasts developed from the meetings of the Academic Progress Board of Studies and for more information on the work and support of the Academic Progress Team please contact: mailto:apt.lts@newcastle.ac.uk or visit https://www.ncl.ac.uk/ltds/professional/

If you would like to get in touch or have an idea you would like to share. Please email ltds@ncl.ac.uk and use the title ‘Learning & Teaching @ Newcastle University Podcast idea’.

References:

Transcript available

Stepchange: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-research/publications/stepchange-mentally-healthy-universities

https://www.smarten.org.uk/reading-list.html Universities UK (2018) Minding our future: starting a conversation about the support of student mental health https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/minding-our-future

University Mental Health Charter https://universitymentalhealthcharter.org.uk/

SMaRteN: https://www.smarten.org.uk/

NHS 5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/

OfS (2019) Mental Health: Are all students being properly supported https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/b3e6669e-5337-4caa-9553-049b3e8e7803/insight-brief-mental-health-are-all-students-being-properly-supported.pdf

World Health Organisation Definitions and Action Plan https://www.who.int/mental_health/en/

Bozier, J (2019), Mental Health in Higher Education and the Sector Challenges Ahead https://www.lsst.ac/blogs/mental_health_in_he/