Mental Health & Wellbeing Charter gets 150th signature during #CollegesWeek

@AoC_info’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Charter gets 150th signature during #CollegesWeek 

We are delighted to announce that the 150th college has signed up to AoC’s  Mental Health & Wellbeing Charter. The charter launched in May 2019 and gives colleges the chance to publicly state their commitment to the mental health agenda. 

With 151 signatures, and more being added by the minute, the Mental Health & Wellbeing Charter has reached a significant milestone that shows how the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff has become a major issue for colleges.

Colleges are central to supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing – they educate and train 2.2 million people each year, including 685,000 young people. They have been central to the Covid-19 effort and continue to strive to support everyone through the ongoing pandemic. 

The charter reaffirms their commitment to staff and students by: 

• Promoting equality of opportunity and challenging mental health stigma
• Providing appropriate mental health training for staff
• Providing targeted individual mental health support where appropriate

It is even more poignant as the British Medical Journal has today published a study showing rates of worsening mental health and suicidal thoughts have increased during lockdown, especially among young adults. Today’s theme for Colleges Week is all about supporting people and communities, colleges across the country do excellent work in helping students to stay well and to support those with mental ill health.

Richard Caulfield, AoC’s lead on Mental Health and Wellbeing said: 

“The Charter was launched in May 2019 as part of Love Our Colleges and Mental Health Awareness Week. It’s wonderful that as we celebrate another Colleges Week that over 150 colleges have committed to providing support for both staff and student mental health and well being at such a crucial time. 

“Every single day colleges across England provide a world class education and transform the lives of millions of people. Many who have been affected by the lockdown and ongoing local restrictions will find solace at their college and it’s encouraging to see so many standing ready to provide consistent support to students of all ages.”

If colleges haven’t signed the charter yet, they can do so by emailing Richard Caulfield. The charter is available to download here.