World Mental Health Day

The core objective of World Mental Health Day has always been to raise awareness around the topic of mental health and East Sussex College have once again outlined their support to the cause.

This year’s theme, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’ and the College is keen to promote such an important campaign. It is more important than ever that students feel the support of the College as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The primary aim of World Mental Health Day this year in the College is to work together towards ending the stigma around mental health, starting conversations and making discussions about mental health and wellbeing in classrooms a normal practice.

ESC has taken a proactive approach to mental health and understands that maintaining the best physical and mental wellbeing is important in your journey to success and will help you to get the most out of your studies. The College is constantly developing resources, training staff and staging activities to give students the very best opportunity to stay well.

A key area of ESC’s support system to students is the Wellbeing team. The College has specialist staff who are here to support students with their wellbeing including mental health, issues with home life or advice about staying healthy. To find out more about how to get in touch with the College’s Wellbeing team, please click here.

In May, East Sussex College signed the Department for Education’s Staff Wellbeing Charter as part of its emerging people strategy and wider commitment to staff wellbeing. By signing the charter, ESC committed to developing a long-term strategy to prioritise staff mental health. Read more about the charter on the College’s blog.

ESC would also like to encourage students to utilise toolkit resources that have been provided by mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk. The toolkits are split into two sections with one focused on more general mental health awareness resources relevant to the occasion, and the other on resources about mental health stigma. To download the toolkits and read more about how they can help, please click here.

Rebecca Conroy, CEO at East Sussex College, said, “East Sussex College is passionate about promoting mental wellbeing, and encouraging open dialogue about mental health. Our students and staff are always at the centre of what we do, and World Mental Health Day is a brilliant opportunity for the College to demonstrate how we can help people with their mental health and wellbeing.”

The College also provides links to many mental health and LGBTQ+ support sites via the My Student Life web page, including the following:

• Mind

• Switchboard

• Black Minds Matter UK

• Eggtooth

• Allsorts

• i-Rock

• Health in Mind

• Ditch The Label

• Samaritans

• Taraki