{"id":214,"date":"2025-03-10T15:18:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T15:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/pvc-student-experience\/?p=214"},"modified":"2025-03-10T15:18:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T15:18:43","slug":"university-mental-health-day-2025-embedding-wellbeing-in-everything-we-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/pvc-student-experience\/2025\/03\/10\/university-mental-health-day-2025-embedding-wellbeing-in-everything-we-do\/","title":{"rendered":"University Mental Health Day 2025: Embedding wellbeing in everything we do"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this joint blog, Cassie Wilson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience), and Jane White, Vice-President (Community & Inclusion), reflect on University Mental Health Day and our Be Well at Bath journey.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

University Mental Health Day<\/span><\/a> (UMHD), taking place on Thursday 13 March, is an important moment for us all to reflect on our own mental health and wellbeing. At Bath, we are committed to fostering an environment where students and staff feel supported, valued, and empowered to prioritise their wellbeing. We also want to encourage everyone to consider the impact they can have on the wellbeing of others, whether a student or staff member.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recognising our progress \u2013 and our ongoing journey<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since last year\u2019s UMHD, the University has achieved the <\/span>Mental Health Charter Award<\/span><\/a>, a recognition of our commitment to continuous improvement in the area of mental health and wellbeing for the entire university community. We are very proud of this achievement, and the award is an important milestone for everyone involved. However, it is also just one step on our longer journey for the University through <\/span>Be Well at Bath<\/span><\/a>. The more important part is what we continue to do now and over the next four years in our ambition to embed wellbeing considerations across all our activities and functions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Be Well<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As co-leads of Be Well at Bath, UMHD provides an opportunity for us to stop and think again about how all the different parts of the university have a significant impact on our community\u2019s wellbeing. The teaching, research, living, and social spaces we use, how we deliver or engage in education and assessments, and the development of processes, services, or policies all impact staff and students. These are just a few examples; there are many more, but they illustrate the wide reach of Be Well and why a whole university approach is required when it comes to wellbeing. Fostering a culture where mental health and wellbeing considerations are embedded across all our activities and functions is ambitious, but rightly so. Through the process of the Charter Award and now <\/span>Be Well<\/span><\/a>, we have often observed that it is not necessarily about doing more, but rather reviewing and adapting what we already do but considering it through the impact on wellbeing.\u00a0 We are not always going to get it right, and we recognise the challenges, but hopefully we can move forward as a community and keep listening to each other to make improvements across the university.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Creating a culture of openness and support<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

University life can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also bring challenges. Balancing academic pressures, work commitments, social expectations, and personal responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming. That is why taking care of our mental health is just as important as our physical wellbeing. This UMHD we invited senior leaders from the university and SU to tell us how they plan to support their wellbeing. You can see our plans in this blog, but please look across the campus display screens to see insights from the Vice-Chancellor, SU President, and others. We know that tackling mental health challenges requires a collective effort. This is why we are actively working to create a culture where everyone feels comfortable discussing their mental health and seeking support when needed. This UMHD, we encourage all members of our community to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n