Embedding mental wellbeing, methods and benefits

Author

Zoë Allman
De Montfort University (Project Lead)

Mental health is an increasingly important topic in Higher Education. It is considered in the design and development of academic programmes of study, support activity, and throughout the student journey. As the 10 October marks World Mental Health Day it is timely to raise to attention once again to the open educational resources developed and shared as part of the QAA Collaborative Enhancement Project, Embedding mental wellbeing: Methods and benefits.

The resources share examples from across the sector to support the embedding of mental wellbeing within the curriculum, for inspiration, re-use and re-purposing. There are examples of:

• pedagogical techniques and approaches that support embedding mental wellbeing in the curriculum
• approaches to embedding mental wellbeing in programmes and modules, and at the university level
• the design of assessment and feedback to best support student mental wellbeing
• transitions during the student journey, initiatives and interventions to support navigation
• work-based placements and professional experiences supporting student mental wellbeing
• relationship-building, connection and belonging as effective approaches to embedding mental wellbeing

Additionally, you will find definitions for mental wellbeing and embedding mental wellbeing to facilitate use of the resources provided.

The project itself was truly collaborative, including  academics, professional services, senior leaders and students’ union representatives from seven original project partners: De Montfort University (Lead), De Montfort Students’ Union, London South Bank University, Open University, University of Bristol, University of East Anglia, University of Greenwich, and University of Reading. The group aimed to provide definitions for mental wellbeing and embedding mental wellbeing, share examples from collaborative partner providers, and identify the benefits of embedding mental wellbeing to support colleagues across the sector who may wish to replicate similar activity in their own settings.

The open educational resources were originally launched at a QAA online event on 17 January 2022, followed by a QAA Membership event on 14 June 2022. There has been, and remains, great interest in the topic from academics, professional services, students’ unions and senior leaders. The project team hope that you find the resources and definitions useful, and welcome any comments or questions to the Project Leader, Zoë Allman.

All outputs can be accessed via the project web page. You can also explore QAA’s other Collaborative Enhancement Projects on the QAA website.