Matt Dawson (
left), who is Health and Wellbeing Ambassador for Sodexo, recently visited its Avery Hill campus to learn about the university’s work to support the wellbeing of all its students and staff.
His visit also tied in with the university’s Mental Health and Wellbeing day, which includes over 60 events across the university’s three campuses ranging from yoga and tai chi to a jewellery workshop as well as lots of information, advice and drop-in support.
By 2022, the university has committed to various wellbeing initiatives, including giving all students access a wellbeing or advice service within two working days.
Every department and team will include a trained mental health champion by 2002 and comprehensive mental health first aid training for academic staff, student supporting roles and managers already underway.
“The University of Greenwich has done a wonderful job when it comes to mental health awareness, not just in their health and wellbeing day, but also in the individuals talking about it,” said Mr Dawson.
“The education of pupils and lecturers on health and wellbeing is right up there on the agenda and I don’t think you could ask for anything more.”
In December, Mind’s Head of Physical Activity, Hayley Jarvis told SHP Online that research by the mental health charity found a quarter (25%) of people said hearing a celebrity talk openly about their own mental health had directly inspired them to seek help for themselves and half (52 per cent) said it has helped them to feel like they weren’t alone.
“We were delighted to welcome Matt Dawson to the university and show him our fantastic sporting facilities, as well as the work we’re doing in supporting the health and wellbeing of our staff and students,” said the University’s Vice Chancellor, David Maguire.
“We have recently invested £1.7m in new sports facilities and we’re keen to engage the whole student community in sport and physical activity, not just those that play at a competitive level, especially as there’s a proven link between regular moderate physical activity and better mental health.”
For further reading see: Mental health in sport: Winning the off-pitch battles.
In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, ‘Burnout, stress and being human’, Heather Beach is joined by Stacy Thomson to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.
We provide an insight on how to tackle burnout and why mental health is such a taboo subject, particularly in the workplace.
