As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, New College Stamford staff and students pulled together to support a Mental Health and Wellbeing fair in the college’s Bistro highlighting the importance of self-care on young people’s mental health.
Colleges across England teach and train 2.2 million people each year - including 685,000 young people. Every year, 1 in 10 young people experience a mental health problem and 1 in 5 young people aged 16-24 experience a common mental illness such as anxiety or depression at any one time. Add to these facts, 75% of adults with a diagnosable mental health problem experience their first symptoms before the age of 24 means New College Stamford plays a vital role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its students and staff.
A number of volunteers from different local organisations, mental health experts, shops and charities all pulled together to support the event. Including; Insight Healthcare Peterborough, Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide), Careers First, Young Addaction, LUSH, and even Clubbercise for a lunchtime dance work out!
The college’s very own Beauty Therapy students put what they’ve learnt to the test and offered staff and students free hand massages and manicures. Beauty students were joined by high street bath bomb giant LUSH to highlight the benefits of self-care and wellbeing on positive mental health.
The college has also reaffirmed their commitment to staff and students by signing up to a brand new national mental health and wellbeing charter - created by the Association of Colleges in conjunction with mental health experts.
The 11-point document includes commitments to:
- Promoting equality of opportunity and challenging mental health stigma
- Providing appropriate mental health training for staff
- Providing targeted individual mental health support where appropriate
Richard Caulfield, Mental Health lead at the Association of Colleges, said:
“Every single day colleges like New College Stamford, provide a world class education and transform the lives of millions of people. This includes providing support for both staff and student wellbeing at the right time, in the right place. This charter gives colleges the chance to publicly state their commitment to the mental health agenda.”
