Activate Learning celebrates World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is celebrated worldwide on 10 October each year.

 

World Mental Health Day 2024 campaign image

World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness of mental health concerns and to encourage people to work together to improve mental health support for everyone.  

It’s a day to talk freely about mental health and utilise the support around you.

The theme of World Mental Health Day 2024, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is: prioritising Mental health in the workplace.

For many of us this will mean different things, but whether you work part-time around your studies, are an apprentice, a T Level student approaching your placement, or planning to do some work experience during your programme, looking after your mental health while working is important for you, for others, the organisation or company and communities.

Back in May 2023, we launched our Mental Health Strategy, Mental Health Matters Here, which aims to support the mental health and wellbeing of everyone at Activate Learning. In addition, we have also created anxiety and stress courses for students too.   

World Mental Health Day Student Message

To mark World Mental Health Day, Gary Headland, CEO of Activate Learning has recorded a message for all students.

Join in with on campus activities

We are hosting a number of events for staff and students across our campuses, pop along to one our drop in sessions below on Tuesday 10 October:

  • Banbury and Bicester College: Tea and Talk, Main Hall, from 10am-1pm (for students and staff).
  • Bracknell and Wokingham College: Bracknell Forest Community Network will have a stand in Recharge, from 12-2pm to speak to students about how to look after their wellbeing and mental health services available.
  • City of Oxford College and University Centre, Oxford city-centre campus: Take a look at our Positive notice boards in Recharge and grab a Positive Banana from reception. You can also pick up a wellbeing journal from Advice and Admissions or Student Support.
  • City of Oxford College and University Centre, Technology campus in Blackbird Leys: We’re launching our Chill Thursdays where students can watch movies and relax with some crafts in room V105, every Thursday from 12-1.30pm.
  • Farnham College: Tea and Talk in the Learning Environment (LRC), from 12.15-1pm. There will be games and questions for staff and students to get involved with to think about and prioritise their mental health.
  • Merrist Wood College and University Centre: Hot drinks and treats in The Harris Centre, from 10-11am (for students and staff). Come and say hello to the volunteers at The Samaritans from 11.30am-1.30pm in the Harris Centre.
  • Reading College and University Centre: Together for Mental Wellbeing will be delivering a one hour interactive wellbeing workshop from 12.30-1.30pm, in A131.

Supporting your mental wellbeing and studies at college 

There may be times at college where you feel you may benefit from some additional support.  

When we look after our mental health and wellbeing, we ensure that we can focus on and make the most of our studies and relationships. 

To help you thrive in your personal life and at college, we offer lots of support services at college.

Your wellbeing and education are important to us. So, if you find yourself struggling, you can access:  

World Mental Health Day 2022 - Activate Learning - College support services

Who can I talk to at college about my mental health? 

At each Activate Learning college, our dedicated Student Support and Safeguarding team are here to help with any of your mental health or wellbeing concerns.  

We want everyone to feel safe and supported. Student Support can help you with your mental health and wellbeing, offering services including:  

Wellbeing Advisers

Our new Wellbeing Advisers will be responsible for supporting students who need support with mild to moderate mental health needs, while the Safeguarding team will retain responsibility for supporting students with moderate to high level mental health needs.

The Wellbeing Advisors can support students with anxiety, questions around their identity or gender, loneliness, feeling down or low, struggling with sleep, or experiencing an upsetting life event (relationship breakdown, bereavement or struggling with change).

Any staff member can refer a student to Wellbeing Advisors.

College nurse (Oxfordshire campuses only)  

The college nurse service covers: 

  • Contraception 
  • Sexual health and guidance 
  • Stop smoking 
  • Mental health 
  • Relationship advice and guidance 
  • Healthy eating 

Counselling   

A free and confidential counselling service is available at all students at Activate Learning.  

Mental health support   

Whatever your mental health concern, we have a support package available to help you. 

You can contact Student Support and the Safeguarding team by visiting them on campus, calling 01865 550 041 or emailing safe@activatelearning.ac.uk.  

If you need support with your mental health outside of college hours, you can contact: 

  • Samaritans: 116 123 
  • Child Line: 0800 1111 
  • Police: 101 
  • Emergency Services: 999 

Ways you can boost your mental health and wellbeing 

There are lots of ways you can boost your mental health and wellbeing outside of our support services at college.  

On World Mental Health Day, you could:  

Clubs and activities at college 

At each Activate Learning college, our Student Enrichment and Engagement team hosts a wealth of clubs and activities.  

These clubs are the perfect opportunity to meet new and like-minded people and to improve your mental health. 

Clubs on offer across Activate Learning include:

  • LGBTQIA+
  • Dungeons & Dragons
  • Photography
  • Football
  • Board games
  • Students’ Union
  • Student Reps
  • Philosophy or theories
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • Christian Union

You can learn more about student clubs, events throughout the year and activities at your campus by speaking to your local Student Enrichment Officer.

If you’d like to start a new club, your Student Enrichment Officer would be more than happy to support this!

World Mental Health Day 2022 - Activate Learning - Learning Environments

Utilising our Learning Environments at college and online 

Our Learning Environments offer in-person and digital services for all students.  They offer many great resources to boost your mental health in light of World Mental Health Day!

They are a great place for quiet study and research. You can borrow books, read magazines, use the computers and more!    

Activate Learning Online (ALO) is also a great resource, you can find out more about Learning Environments on ALO.  

On ALO, you can learn more about:  

Other World Mental Health Day resources 

Here are some other World Mental Health Day resources that you may find useful:

We hope you have found this content useful on World Mental Health Day. There’s lots going on across our campuses!

If you’d like to get involved in the conversation, join us via the Activate Learning social media channels using the hashtags: #WorldMentalHealthDay, #WMHD and #PinItForMentalHealth