Student Minds

Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay and we want to change the narrative on suicide. By being open and encouraging honest conversation about suicide, suicidal thoughts and more we can help to end the stigma around this difficult topic and begin to create a culture of understanding, and support. 🧡 If you or someone you know needs support, please check out Samaritans, Shout UK and PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide

For some students, freshers has just begun, and for some, freshers is just around the corner! So we’re here to help all freshers with plenty of tips on freshers weeks, moving in, and more! Need advice on how to support someone in preparing for uni? Check out Student Space today: https://ow.ly/78mR50TiB4O

Are you interested in fundraising? Are you looking for a job in the charity sector? We could have the role for you! We are recruiting for a Fundraising Officer. Join our team and you’ll play a vital role in growing our income by supporting our fundraisers, donors and corporate partners, planning fundraising campaigns and managing data. Find out more and apply today: https://ow.ly/1XHa50T3Q4G

Today’s report from Centre for Mental Health highlights the widespread negative impacts of the cost of living crisis on mental health. This is a central theme and urgent issue in our Student Mental Health Manifesto. It’s great to see so many of our recommendations shared in this report including: - Ensuring reforms of the private rented housing sector are equally effective for all renters. - Increase the national living wage - at Student Minds we want to see a Real Living Wage for all over 18. - Maintaining and extending help to reduce the costs of basic services (such as energy bills). - Ensuring that concessionary travel schemes include people with mental health difficulties on par with those with a physical disability. - Implementing a 'mental health in all policies' approach to decision-making. - Investing in workforce development and training people to deliver relevant services in culturally appropriate ways. We want to echo the conclusions of the Centre for Mental Health; the cost of living crisis is putting mental health at risk, leaving people feeling isolated and in ever-increasing debt. This needs to change. Students should not have to choose between their uni resources, buying a food shop or turning their heating on. Read Centre For Mental Health’s full report: https://ow.ly/AuEf50TfxFa Also, read our Student Mental Health Manifesto to read more about the change we are calling for: https://ow.ly/hFpo50TfxFb

Are you currently considering training opportunities for your student leaders and volunteers? Show you are putting your students' mental health and wellbeing first by joining our new course: Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders. Find out more and read our news piece: https://ow.ly/prHl50Tf7hq Didn’t get chance to come along to our launch event? Don’t worry you can watch it here: https://ow.ly/L3NA50Tf7hp

Do you have a passion for training? We’re looking for someone to lead our training offer! Student Minds training courses are designed to equip students and staff with the skills and knowledge to provide support within the student community, as well as look after their own wellbeing. If you have a background in training, learning or development take a look at our part-time Training Manager (interim) role and how to apply before Sunday the 8th of Sep: https://ow.ly/z19e50T2bUV

‘The rise of the commuter student’ was highlighted in The Guardian with students sharing their stories of living away from campus. Their experiences are similar to those we shared in our recent report: ‘Understanding student mental health inequalities: part-time, distance learner and commuter students’. Whilst there can be challenges associated with commuting, such as travel issues, costs, and barriers to belonging, the option to study as a commuter also makes higher education more accessible to many. The important factor is CHOICE. Students shouldn’t be priced out of their preferred options; equally, they shouldn’t face stigma because of how they choose to study and live. Read more about the experiences of part-time, distance and commuter students in our report: https://ow.ly/5gVx50T9Knm

A reminder that ourselves along with Andy Owusu, Evangel Onwuaso and Taj Donville-Outerbridge, BSc (Hons), AKC are holding a webinar discussion of our recent co-creation project, ‘Life as a Black student’, in exactly 1 week which will be chaired by our CEO Yeme Onoabhagbe! We will explore our key learnings throughout the process and how Higher Education as a sector can utilise this pack to support their work. Together we can improve the experience of Black students as they navigate university life🧡 Sign up now: https://ow.ly/OV6h50SYmwF

Today is Makaton International Awareness Day. Makaton allows many people around the world to communicate and is used by over 100,000 people as their main method of communication. Find out more about Makaton by checking out @the makaton charity #MakatonAwareness #WeTalkMakaton

Come join our team! New job opportunity. We’re looking for someone with a background in training, learning and/or development to manage our training function. If you are passionate about improving university communities to ensure every student gets the mental health support they need to reach their goals then take a look at our latest part-time job opportunity. We have a range of benefits at Student Minds including: 😄 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, plus a 2-week winter closure. 😄 Part-time and flexible working 😄 10% off weekly working hours for your wellbeing Find out more about our part-time Training Manager role👉https://ow.ly/TjwW50T2bxC