Mental health and well-being

Advice on effective mental health support for students and staff to create a happier, healthier campus. Find out how universities and academics can promote well-being, protect their campus community from spiralling stress, minimise the risk of burnout and build resilience - from institutional practices that create a culture of care to personal self-care tips and healthy habits for overworked academics and students.

Clock drawn on blackboard, time management

Around or against the clock: time management tips for higher education teachers

Careful lesson planning, understanding your universities’ support services and accepting mistakes will all save you time as a university educator. Here, John Weldon offers five time-management tips

John Weldon

Victoria University

Welcome! Now what?

A course induction can be more than an information-giving session in the student welcome timetable. It can introduce students to the practice of reflection on short- and long-term goals and what they want to achieve, writes Marianne Savory

Marianne Savory

Leeds University Business School

Man covering his eyes in front of his laptop

To trigger-warn or not to trigger-warn: that is the question

An instructor subjectively defines what they consider triggering, so how useful are they and how can we get trigger warnings right?

Daniella Sieukaran

Dalhousie University

Students hold up signs in the shape of speech bubbles

What do students want from higher education?

Student satisfaction runs much deeper than excellent academic credentials. Find out how to attract new intake by focusing on what they really want from the university experience

Pete Moss

Ellucian

Mature age female student with hand up in lecture theatre

Why your students aren’t speaking up in lectures

When the risk of putting their hand up and giving an answer is greater than the benefit, students will remain silent. Here are strategies to encourage them to participate in class

Jade Garratt

Psych Safety

Business people high five each other in the workplace

Five ways to make higher education more accessible to neurodivergent people

By making workplaces more neurodivergent-friendly, we can improve the environment for everyone. Here are five ways to do it

Valen Lollato

Loughborough University

Students in a kitchen having breakfast together

Build healthy resident student communities with restorative practice

The integration of restorative practices within student residential communities can have a transformational impact

Gemma Edgar

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Student unpacking his car with his parents on campus

Building a parent-friendly campus: practical considerations

Including parents in the academic experience can help build a stronger campus community and set students on a path towards success

Poornima Panduranga Kundapur

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

How to help a student in mental health distress

Students are vulnerable to mental health struggles, and exam time can be especially stressful. Here’s how to help in an emergency and offer long-term support for those with ongoing issues

Norlin Nosbi, Nurul Azhani Yunus, Mazian Mohammad, Abdul Rahim Othman

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Educate to empower your students and prevent harassment

To make campus safer, why not teach first-year students the principles of harassment prevention? Here’s how

Dinara Pisareva, Nikita Durnev

Nazarbayev University

How universities can better support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller students

More students from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are entering higher education. But what can universities do to better support their needs?

Colin Clark

University of the West of Scotland

A young student wearing a mask studies in the library

Three ways to support the post-pandemic mental health of Generation Z

Post-pandemic, students are still struggling with their mental health. Here are three ways to help

Sumbal Riaz, Aena Khan

Dubai Medical University

Building trust to support researchers’ mental health

Principal investigators should know what challenges to trust their research team may face at each stage of a project – from team building to post-project collaboration – so they can focus support effectively

Alex Zarifis

University of Southampton

Plant the seeds for a rewarding balance between family and academia

Balancing the demands of family life and higher education can feel as daunting as starting a garden from scratch. But with careful planning, consistent care and the right tools, you can cultivate a thriving environment where both areas of your life flourish

John Sinclair

Colorado State University Global

Latin American father working from home with toddler

Childcare for students and academics needs resources and relationships

Handling a challenging academic workload along with parenting responsibilities is complicated. Support, connection to resources and access to reliable childcare are all needed for parenting students and professionals to succeed

Kim Thomason

Virginia Tech

A son hugs his mother as she works at a laptop

What universities can do to help academics with caring responsibilities

Higher education institutions can help their employees balance the demands of family responsibilities with work – here’s how

Ambreen Ansar

Dubai Medical University

A woman stands up in front of a boardroom table

How to navigate your first steps into university leadership

Moving from colleague to taking charge can be a daunting transition. Kingsley O. Omeihe and Ibiyemi Omeihe offer advice on your first few moves as a leader

Kingsley Omeihe, Ibiyemi Omeihe

University of the West of Scotland

Young Asian female graduate with baby and partner

Balancing books and babies: empowering graduate-student parents

Juggling academics with family responsibilities is complicated. Barbara Hoopes shares advice on supporting and empowering graduate students who are parents

Barbara Hoopes

Virginia Tech

Student receiving guidance from a teacher

Five steps to prevent student disengagement

Follow this educator's action plan to ensure students at risk of dropping out of their studies feel supported to get back on track

Layal Hakim

The University of Exeter

A man with a baby in a sling checks his laptop while drinking coffee

The art of balance: tips for primary carers in higher education

The dual role of primary caregivers and higher education professional is a delicate balancing act. Here are some strategies for juggling two very demanding endeavours

Monika Shukla

Singapore Institute of Technology

‘What colour is your English?’ Linguistic racism’s impact on faculty of colour

Linguistic racism doesn’t just affect international students – it can hurt the mental health of staff too. Here’s how we can combat it

Sender Dovchin, Vander Tavares

Curtin University, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Supporting parent academics through staff networks

The power of a combined voice can make working life easier for university faculty and staff with children. Here, Judith Lock lays out the challenges of mixing parenthood with academia and how networks lead to more family-friendly campuses

Judith Lock

University of Southampton

Science-backed mental health techniques for students’ well-being

University students have long struggled with academic pressure, social media demands, economic challenges and career uncertainty. This technique uses language and body awareness to help students cope and reset

Erica Coates

Virginia Tech

A laptop screen with deepfake technology

Deepfakes are coming for higher education. What can we do to prepare?

Deepfakes are easier than ever to make, leaving students and academics vulnerable to cyberbullying, reputational damage and educational integrity. Here’s how to be vigilant against them

Jasper Roe, Mike Perkins

James Cook University Singapore, British University Vietnam

How Mozart and the arts can help students feel less awkward

Music and dance give the post-Covid cohort low-stress opportunities to face each other in potentially antagonising – even agonising – set-ups. Here’s how a multisensory curriculum helps students combat feelings of isolation and impostor syndrome

Brigid Cohen , Wendy Anne Lee, Rosemary Quinn, Mimi Yin

New York University

What self-determination theory can do for post-pandemic college students

Incoming university students are more stressed, anxious and distracted than ever. Here’s how to support their psychological needs

Cathy A. Pohan, Melissa Samaniego

Chapman University

Older woman talking to young woman in a professional setting, mentoring

Are you ready to be an invested mentor?

The ‘invested mentor’ model takes mentorship beyond process and logistics. In this model, an effective relationship is based on connection rather than formalities with a mentor who prioritises their mentee’s success

Rebecca Taylor

University College Birmingham

A group of people work around an office table

Create healthy relationships between faculty members for the benefit of everyone

When staff members at an institution work together amicably, student performance improves, a collaborative environment forms and the academic community is made even stronger. Here’s how to do it

Rania Shalaby

Dubai Medical University

Members of Gen Z work in an office lounge

Universities need to act now to bridge the Gen Z gap

Many educators are still struggling to harness the talents of Generation Z and help set them up for employment. Just a few key business changes can make the connection, writes Salah Al-Majeed

Salah Al-Majeed

Al Akhawayn University

Universities need to remember the true value of education

The sector’s focus on cost-effectiveness is overshadowing educational opportunities. Samar Abdelazim Ahmed argues for a redefinition of success

Samar Abdelazim Ahmed

Dubai Medical University

Colourful paper explodes from one wooden head, black paper from the other

Let’s kindle the fire for discovery in our students

In his new book ‘Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth’, Daniel R Porterfield explores how to spark a heat-seeking search for knowledge among undergraduates

Daniel R. Porterfield

Aspen Institute

A lecturer speaking to a student at their desk

Managing empathy fatigue as a teacher

While not technically in the job description, academic professionals support students with recognising and working through their mental health issues. Kshamta Sharma shares techniques to help these staff protect themselves from second hand stress

Kshamta Sharma

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Making sport accessible to everyone on campus

Fitness and sport programmes are not only for elite athletes. Here, Phil Malatesta offers advice for how to maximise students’ opportunities for movement and physical activity

Phil Malatesta

University of Southampton

Walking the tightrope towards tenure

Achieving a permanent academic position requires a deft juggle of research, teaching and service. Here, Cheong Fan offers advice on how to keep your balance

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

A shy owl peeks from a hollowed-out tree trunk

An introvert’s guide to networking

For academics, networking can greatly enhance your career. But if the very idea fills you with dread, Yalinu Poya offers her advice for putting yourself out there

Yalinu Poya

University of the West of Scotland

Ways to seamlessly build breaks into your working day

Regular, tailored breaks will not only make your workdays manageable but will lead you towards increased productivity, creativity and overall job satisfaction, writes Dola Saha

Dola Saha

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

In a group of wooden toy people, a red one stands out

Emerging leaders, your universities need you

When a university is undergoing transformational change, emerging leaders are crucial for translating strategy into action. Zoë Allman and Gary Souter share their experience of leading on curriculum change

Zoë Allman, Gary Souter

De Montfort University

Infertility is a private struggle that requires open and supportive solutions

With infertility on the rise, is it time for universities to consider how they support staff struggling with fertility? Devon Oakley-Hogg shares a first-hand account of her failed IVF cycles and how the experience has left her craving change

Devon Oakley-Hogg

University of Glasgow

A blue set of steps with a white arrow pointing upwards

Teach the skills required for a future we can’t yet imagine

Times are changing too quickly for any of us to accurately predict what the future employment market will look like. But we can still prepare our students. Hajer N. Sheikh advocates for a more agile approach

Hajer N. Sheikh

Dubai Medical University

A group comforts a woman, sitting with her head bowed

Research shouldn’t cause trauma – let’s find a better way

How can we conduct research and share results without affecting the well-being of those around us? Eileen Harkess-Murphy advocates for a trauma-informed approach

Eileen Harkess-Murphy

University of the West of Scotland

A woman in a mortarboard, holding a scroll, looks off into the distance

For the future of higher education, we need to educate the whole student

In this extract from his book ‘The Learning-Centered University’, Steven Mintz lays out his vision of higher education’s future, and proposes a new way of learning

Steven Mintz

University of Texas at Austin

A woman massages her temples in front of a desktop computer

To build resilience, we need to embrace failure in the classroom and beyond

Let’s redefine failure by changing the way we teach, assess and support students and staff. Ibham Veza, Mhadi A. Ismael and Taib Iskandar Mohamad outline how

Ibham Veza, Mhadi A. Ismael , Taib Iskandar Mohamad

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Multiracial group of students taking a selfie in the park

Where’s Hector? How a scavenger hunt helps first-year students explore the university campus

A collaborative discovery activity has benefits that go beyond simply helping new students get to know the university grounds. It fosters belonging and fun – and even promotes physical well-being, writes Hector Viveros Tapia

Hector Viveros Tapia

Macquarie University

Buddy system: creating community through writing

Is a writing group or partner an effective antidote to post-pandemic isolation during doctoral education? Lena Steveker and Laura Spadon explain how to put a forum for belonging in place

Lena Steveker, Laura Spadon

University of Luxembourg

Building kindness into an institutional culture

Advice on how to ground humanity in institutional practices, structures and policies to holistically support faculty and staff

Xueli Wang

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Young Asian woman greeting friend at cafe

Informal networking and how to meet people on campus

Belonging is not just a result of being in a place – nor it is the sole preserve of students. For university faculty, it comes from chance encounters, small gestures and stepping outside your comfort zone, writes Glenn Fosbraey

Glenn Fosbraey

University of Winchester

Recognising and dealing with bullying on college campuses

It’s not realistic to expect all contempt to instantly vanish when you respond, but it will certainly persist if you don’t respond, writes Elizabeth K. Englander

Elizabeth K. Englander

Bridgewater State University

Young Black woman lying on bed looking at phone

Transforming mental health in South African universities: the promise of AI chatbots

Artificial intelligence can offer promise for student mental health services in Africa. AI-driven chatbots can provide a nonjudgemental, readily available, cost-effective avenue for individuals to access information, support and guidance, writes Matete Madiba

Matete Madiba

University of the Western Cape

A woman lecturer leads a classroom discussion

In a precarious academy, how can migrant academics survive – and thrive?

In this extract from their book, ‘Migrant Academics’ Narratives of Precarity and Resilience in Europe’, Olga Burlyuk and Ladan Rahbari explore the ways precarity presents itself in academia

Olga Burlyuk, Ladan Rahbari

University of Amsterdam

Woman choosing between chocolate and apple

What does it take to encourage students to use their voice?

The National Student Survey tells us students want their voices heard, but what if they don’t take up opportunities for feedback? Sam Perry looks at challenges of integrating student input (and wonders if chocolate is the answer)

Sam Perry

University of Southampton

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