Durham Uni to receive report on how it deals with student mental health

Just days after World Mental Health Day, Durham has signed up to the national University Mental Health Charter.

This was announced through the regular Dialogue Signposts communications from the University.

The University Mental Health Charter is run by mental health charity, Student Minds, and has been developed with university staff and students across the country. The charter sets out initiatives that universities can adopt to improve mental health and wellbeing for the whole University community.

Durham has joined sixty universities in signing up to the charter, where members of the programme can work towards being awarded a charter accreditation. Universities who earn this award are recognised for championing mental health initiatives and having excellent support in place for students.

Current mental health schemes at Durham include the free counselling service, Nightline, college Welfare, and petting zoos.

Grey College Welfare petting zoo last term

Sam Dale, Director of Student Support and Wellbeing, said: “The charter is our pledge to review and improve the University’s approach to mental health and wellbeing.

“It includes a commitment to work with staff and students to support services that promote good mental health.”

Sam continued: “Over the next year, we’ll be working towards the charter accreditation to help us continue to develop a compassionate campus, taking a whole university approach to mental health and wellbeing.

“During the summer we worked with specialist consultants to benchmark our current practices against the charter criteria, identify areas of good practice and areas for improvement. We’ll receive their report in the next few weeks which will form the basis of our action plan to achieving charter status.”

The report will provide information about what Durham University does well with regards to mental health, and areas that it needs to improve.

For details about mental health support at Durham, contact your college Welfare Team, or the  Mental Health Advice Team.

The Tab Durham is currently hiring! Come along to our open meeting on Friday 14th October at 8pm at The Library Bar to meet the team and find out more about us.

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