Presentation from the seminar at the 2013 Student Wellbeing Web Summit hosted by Mental Wealth UK and Open Your Mind - which took place on March 20th 2013. For more information about the Web Summit and Mental Wealth UK, visit http://mwukweb.wix.com/mwuk-web-summit or www.mentalwealthuk.com. For information about Open Your Mind, visit www.nusconnect.org.uk/openyourmind or follow us on twitter: @openyourmindni To watch a video of the seminar, visit:

1. 2013 Student Wellbeing
WEB SUMMIT
12.00 - 1.30pm
Workshop: How to Run a Mental Health Campaign
#mwukweb @MentalWealthUK
SPONSORS & ASSOCIATES:

2. Introductions
Rosie Tressler (@rosietressler)
Development Officer, Mental Wealth UK
Edward Pinkney (@smwproject)
Project Coordinator, Open Your Mind
Expert Advisor for this session:
Oliver Kasper, Campaigns and Democracy Manager
University of Nottingham Students’ Union
Technology
To participate you will need a computer, internet connection, and a headset with
inbuilt microphone (e.g. the headphones you might use for a skype call). If you do not
have these, you will be able to dial in using a conference call number.
#mwukweb

3. CONTENTS:
A. Student Mental Health: An Overview
B. Reaching Students & Establishing Student-led
Initiatives: A Step by Step Approach
C. Running an Event or Campaign
#mwukweb

4. Student Mental Health: An Overview
1. Mental Health (According to the WHO)
2. Translating this to students
3. Growing Wellbeing Agenda
4. Mapping Universities
5. Three Dimensions of Campus Change
#mwukweb

5. 1. Mental Health (According to the WHO)
• The Scope of the Problem
– ‘Over 450 million people are affected by mental health problems.
– Almost one million people die by suicide each year.
– By 2030, depression is expected to be the biggest health burden on
society.
• Mental health defined
– “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own
potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work
productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or
his community.”
• Healthy Settings Model
– "Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their
everyday life; where they learn, work, play, and love.“ – Ottawa
Charter (1986)
#mwukweb

6. 2. Translating this to students
• Royal College of Psychiatrists’ report identified
the “pressing need”
– A 2008 survey (Bewick et al.) found that 29% of students
showed clinical levels of psychological distress
• Whole-University Approach
• Attitude Change
#mwukweb

7. 3. Growing Wellbeing Agenda
• Positive Psychology & Humanistic Psychology
• Employability, Soft Skills, Resilience (‘resources
to thrive’)
#mwukweb

8. 4. Mapping Universities
• Counselling Services
• Peer-Listening / Groups
• Mental Health Advisors
• Disability Services
• Student Unions
• Student-led initiatives (Mental Wealth UK /
Open Your Mind) – helping to bridge
boundaries
#mwukweb

9. 5. Three Dimensions of Campus Change
Opening Minds
…Creating Understanding
…Connecting With Resources
#mwukweb

10. 6. Links
• Open Your Mind
www.nusconnect.org.uk/openyourmind
• World Health Organisation
http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/
• Healthy Universities Project
http://www.healthyuniversities.ac.uk
• Rpsych report and related articles by Ed
http://edwardpinkney.com/?page_id=2
#mwukweb

11. Establishing Student-led Initiatives
1. The role for students
2. What is a Mental Wealth Group?
3. Why students would want to be involved
4. Getting going
#mwukweb

12. 1. The role for students
• Attitude Changes comes from within the
community
• Signposting: Students know how to reach
students. Growing evidence that students
prefer to listen to and accept advice from
peers
• Students can make mistakes (not seen as
authority figures)
#mwukweb

13. 2. What is a Mental Wealth Group?
Groups ran ‘by students, for students’ that;
– Provide a regular, welcoming, non-judgemental space
to fellow students and reach out to the wider student
community
– Demystify mental health by providing information
days and wellbeing fairs and campaigns to stimulate
positive change and challenge discrimination
– Publicise activities across the community to encourage
students to care for their own mental wellbeing
– Provide information and signposting to students who
may otherwise be reluctant or unclear as to how to
seek help
#mwukweb

14. Mental Wealth Groups…
NOT A FORMAL
SUPPORT SERVICE
#mwukweb

15. Mental Wealth Groups…
 have trained leaders and members
 link with their Student Union and its Welfare team
 have at least one named university staff advisor from a
relevant background (mental health advisor or counsellor)
 have a clear approach to continuity
 comply with and disseminate MWF guidance on good
practice
 are members and contributors in the active national
network
#mwukweb

16. The National Network
• 30 affiliated groups supported by
development officer including
– 3 groups in Scotland
– 3 groups in Wales
– First Further Education College
(Kirklees)
#mwukweb

17. Our Provision
 provides mentoring, guidance and support to the students groups
 liaises with Welfare Officers and University MH advisors
 facilitates a national MWUK Student Advisory Committee
 develops and disseminates resources and toolkits
 collates feedback from student groups
 provides training events, conferences/summits and awards
 networks with key national stakeholders
 advocates nationally on behalf of student mental health
#mwukweb

18. 3. Why students want to be involved
• Professional opportunities
• Skill-building
• Personal passion
Emily, Sheffield University MW Group Leader: “Not only did I get to make new friends, I have
gained experience as working as part of a team... I have also become far more confident.
Organising events and approaching many new people is something I never would have done
when first arriving at university.”
Alex, Exeter MW Group Leader: “The best part about running a group is over hearing someone
talking about your group. Its great to be part of people’s every day conversations and shows that
our campaigns and presence on campus is appreciated! Personally I have also developed my
delegating skills. It has shown me how to effectively run a group, a skill which will be
transferrable throughout my career.”
Rachel, Sheffield Hallam MW Group Leader: “I feel good to know that I am making a difference.”
#mwukweb

19. 4. Getting Started
• Advertise opportunity to students: SU/ University
communication channels
• Drawing up a manifesto: What are your core aims?
• Register with Mental Wealth UK:
home@mentalwealthuk.com
• Utilise the Start-up resources
• Recruit members: Introductions meeting, Union
events, Freshers’ Fair, Uni Mental Health Day etc.
• Receive training
• Organise events…
#mwukweb

20. Running an Event or Campaign
1. Identifying the aim
2. Consulting stakeholders
3. SMART Planning
4. Marketing
5. Delivery
6. Review
Joined by Oliver Kasper, Campaigns and Democracy
Manager at the University of Nottingham Students’
Union
#mwukweb

21. What is a Campaign?
• What is the purpose of an event or campaign?
• Issue of Change Vs Awareness in Mental Health
Campaigning
#mwukweb

22. Identifying the Aim
• What do you already know? Evidence is Key!
• What are you trying to change with your event /
campaign?
Behavioural Change e.g. Fighting stigma on campus
Institutional Change e.g. Increasing Mental Health
service provision
#mwukweb

23. Consulting Stakeholders
• Who has influence?
• Who are your allies and targets?
• ALLIES: Map out Relevant staff that can help you. Who
also wants to see the end goal achieved?
– Welfare Officer / Union Exec
– Students’ Union staff
– Organisations e.g. MWUK
• TARGETS: Who can make the change happen?
– Vice Chancellor?
– Local MP
#mwukweb

24. Planning your campaign/ event: Make it SMART
Create a list of objectives that will help you meet the change you want to create, but
make them SMART…
Specific
• Is your objective well defined?
• Can anyone with limited knowledge of the event/ campaign understand it?
• What specific tactics will it involve?
Measured
• Can the success be measured? How will you know when you have reached the
goal?
Achievable
• Is your objective realistic and attainable?
Resourced
• Have you considered the financial resources you may need and researched into
funding?
• What about staff, volunteer resources? Teamwork makes the dream work!
Targeted
• Is your objective targeted to a specific audience and message?
#mwukweb

25. Campaigns Tactics
• How do we decide what tactics to use?
• Guided by the issues / the change you want to make
#mwukweb

26. Marketing
Getting your message out / advertising an event.
• Your immediate channels: SU mailing list, website,
social media, screens, boards etc.
• University Pages, Specific places e.g. Student
Support, International Office, etc.
• Contact relevant societies (e.g. Yoga)
• Inform Local Press and university media
#mwukweb

27. Don’t forget…
• Are the activities accessible to anyone?
• Will it clash with other events/ exams?
• Do you need to return Risk assessments or other
forms to your SU?
And most importantly…
Your wellbeing comes first!
#mwukweb

28. Campaign/ Event Delivery
• This is putting the event / campaign into action by
following your plan and fully utilising your resources
• Trial and error is inevitable
• Don’t be afraid to change tactics
• Remember to collect data and media coverage for
your review
#mwukweb

29. Review
• Debrief : did the tactics employed work?
• Did you achieve your goals?
• Follow up communication to members / attendees /
supporters
• Learn: Write up a review for future reference and
handover – crucial for sustainability of the group
• Groups: Return forms to MWUK
#mwukweb

30. Examples of Campaigns / Events
3.45 - 5.00pm Discussion Forum: Ideas Review for
2012/2013
• We will be sharing some of our favourite event &
campaign concepts from the past 12 months.
Following on from our next session:
2.00 - 3.30pm Panel Discussion, 'What should a
university mental health policy look like?’
#mwukweb

31. Next Session: 2.00 - 3.30pm
Panel Discussion,
'What should a university mental health
policy look like?’
#mwukweb
Register here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4
245777693707723776
Copyright of Mental Wealth Foundation 2013