Mental health and well-being

Advice on effective mental health support for students and staff to create a happier, healthier campus. Find out how universities and academics can promote well-being, protect their campus community from spiralling stress, minimise the risk of burnout and build resilience - from institutional practices that create a culture of care to personal self-care tips and healthy habits for overworked academics and students.

Can non-assessed creative play help students develop confidence and critical thinking?

Supporting and enhancing students’ drawing skills improves not only their visual communication but also their mental health and well-being. Chris Wright and Zoë Allman offer low-stakes ways to use creativity to build community

Chris Wright, Zoë Allman

De Montfort University

Why academics are losing sleep

Struggling to balance academic life with healthy sleep habits? Whether it’s a well-placed nap or giving grant writing a rest, this science-backed guide will help scholars, teachers and administrators get their full eight hours

Chin Moi Chow

University of Sydney

Older students at their desks at a university

How can universities encourage active ageing?

As life expectancies rise, universities must prepare to welcome more older students. Here are some ways to ensure institutions are inclusive spaces for these learners

Husnul Fitri

The University of Indonesia

A group of PhD students touch mortarboards

Four ways to enhance the postgraduate student experience

Postgraduate students are our future colleagues – let’s put ourselves in their shoes. Here are four ways to help your PhD students thrive in higher education

Miller Alonso Camargo-Valero

University of Leeds

An educator comforts a distressed student

Let’s embrace compassionate pedagogy for a more humane academy

How can we bridge the compassion gaps in the day-to-day experiences of students and staff in higher education? Kathryn Waddington and Bryan Bonaparte offer their solutions – and warn of the challenges we’re still facing

Kathryn Waddington, Bryan Bonaparte

University of Westminster

How higher education can lead the way in refugee resettlement

Higher education has an important role to play in the global refugee crisis. Here’s how a national initiative resettled refugees and helped them continue their education in their new home

Lauren M. London

Eastern Michigan University

Three male students laughing and chatting

We need to get to know our international students better

To create inclusive classrooms for international students, we must address bias and challenge assumptions. Here’s how

Meg Maclean

The University of Edinburgh

Structure of teepee against blue cloudy sky

Principles of Indigenous leadership and self-care in the academy

Indigenous leadership requires resilience, humility and self-awareness. These 10 principles offer a guide to cultivating wellness and fostering a supportive community

Chris Andersen

University of Alberta

Struggle, strength and growth: a holistic approach to embracing change

In preparing for their careers, students need skills to manage the demands that a changing world will place on their internal and external lives. These five stages aim to help them develop adaptability, resilience and psychological growth

Kathleen Chim, Lai Tsz Chui, Benjamin Tak Yuen Chan

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Colouring in: a big-impact, low-budget support for student well-being

The simple activity of colouring in could be an easy, budget-friendly way for university educators and professionals to help students reduce stress and improve well-being

Emma Palmer-Cooper

University of Southampton

Make money management matter: five rules for cost-of-living communications

A finalist for THE’s Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team of the Year award shares strategies for leveraging data and insights to help students better manage their finances

Lauren Phillips

University of Leeds

An illustration of a man holding an umbrella while emotions rain down upon him

Psychological safety can be a positive, powerful influence on learning environments

In order for students to feel confident speaking up in class and flexing their creative muscles, educators must create a sense of psychological safety. Here are eight tips to do so

Jenny Moffett

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

A pair of surgical scissors are passed from one member of the surgical team to another

Making educational content open access can save lives

By making training resources for surgical professions available on an open access platform, RCSI and its partners are helping to address a huge number of preventable deaths each year. Find out how you can do something similar

Eric O'Flynn, Ines Perić

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Smiling Chinese college tutor at whiteboard

Setting boundaries for teachers’ well-being

Practising self-care and saying no can help university educators manage the increasing demands of teaching and find a sustainable work-life balance

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

Black students are succeeding in spite of academia, rather than because of it – we need a reset

The narrative that widening participation is enough is creating isolation and disillusionment among Black PhD students. How can universities move beyond it to empower Black academics?

William Ackah

Birkbeck, University of London

A student looks thoughtfully into the distance

Universities owe it to society to produce good citizens

Higher education’s role in creating the citizens of tomorrow’s world should not be underestimated. Here’s how to shape the leaders of the future and foster a sense of civic responsibility within them

Hind Lebdaoui

Al Akhawayn University

Frustrated student trying to understand her notes

How can we help students manage frustration and build resilience?

Help students not to become discouraged by poor exam results by instilling a growth mindset, helping them plan their time and encouraging self-reflection

Agustina Ortelli

Universidad Austral

Campus Talks: How can universities ensure students are safe and supported?

A discussion of universities’ duty of care towards students, from tackling sexual misconduct to ensuring they feel supported in their studies

Rachel Fenton, Catherine Moran

The University of Exeter, University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Clock drawn on blackboard, time management

Around or against the clock: time management tips for higher education teachers

Careful lesson planning, understanding your universities’ support services and accepting mistakes will all save you time as a university educator. Here, John Weldon offers five time-management tips

John Weldon

Victoria University

Welcome! Now what?

A course induction can be more than an information-giving session in the student welcome timetable. It can introduce students to the practice of reflection on short- and long-term goals and what they want to achieve, writes Marianne Savory

Marianne Savory

Leeds University Business School

Man covering his eyes in front of his laptop

To trigger-warn or not to trigger-warn: that is the question

An instructor subjectively defines what they consider triggering, so how useful are they and how can we get trigger warnings right?

Daniella Sieukaran

Dalhousie University

Students hold up signs in the shape of speech bubbles

What do students want from higher education?

Student satisfaction runs much deeper than excellent academic credentials. Find out how to attract new intake by focusing on what they really want from the university experience

Pete Moss

Ellucian

Mature age female student with hand up in lecture theatre

Why your students aren’t speaking up in lectures

When the risk of putting their hand up and giving an answer is greater than the benefit, students will remain silent. Here are strategies to encourage them to participate in class

Jade Garratt

Psych Safety

Business people high five each other in the workplace

Five ways to make higher education more accessible to neurodivergent people

By making workplaces more neurodivergent-friendly, we can improve the environment for everyone. Here are five ways to do it

Valen Lollato

Loughborough University

Students in a kitchen having breakfast together

Build healthy resident student communities with restorative practice

The integration of restorative practices within student residential communities can have a transformational impact

Gemma Edgar

The University of Newcastle, Australia

Student unpacking his car with his parents on campus

Building a parent-friendly campus: practical considerations

Including parents in the academic experience can help build a stronger campus community and set students on a path towards success

Poornima Panduranga Kundapur

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

How to help a student in mental health distress

Students are vulnerable to mental health struggles, and exam time can be especially stressful. Here’s how to help in an emergency and offer long-term support for those with ongoing issues

Norlin Nosbi, Nurul Azhani Yunus, Mazian Mohammad, Abdul Rahim Othman

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Educate to empower your students and prevent harassment

To make campus safer, why not teach first-year students the principles of harassment prevention? Here’s how

Dinara Pisareva, Nikita Durnev

Nazarbayev University

How universities can better support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller students

More students from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are entering higher education. But what can universities do to better support their needs?

Colin Clark

University of the West of Scotland

A young student wearing a mask studies in the library

Three ways to support the post-pandemic mental health of Generation Z

Post-pandemic, students are still struggling with their mental health. Here are three ways to help

Sumbal Riaz, Aena Khan

Dubai Medical University

Plant the seeds for a rewarding balance between family and academia

Balancing the demands of family life and higher education can feel as daunting as starting a garden from scratch. But with careful planning, consistent care and the right tools, you can cultivate a thriving environment where both areas of your life flourish

John Sinclair

Colorado State University Global

Building trust to support researchers’ mental health

Principal investigators should know what challenges to trust their research team may face at each stage of a project – from team building to post-project collaboration – so they can focus support effectively

Alex Zarifis

University of Southampton

Latin American father working from home with toddler

Childcare for students and academics needs resources and relationships

Handling a challenging academic workload along with parenting responsibilities is complicated. Support, connection to resources and access to reliable childcare are all needed for parenting students and professionals to succeed

Kim Thomason

Virginia Tech

A son hugs his mother as she works at a laptop

What universities can do to help academics with caring responsibilities

Higher education institutions can help their employees balance the demands of family responsibilities with work – here’s how

Ambreen Ansar

Dubai Medical University

A woman stands up in front of a boardroom table

How to navigate your first steps into university leadership

Moving from colleague to taking charge can be a daunting transition. Kingsley O. Omeihe and Ibiyemi Omeihe offer advice on your first few moves as a leader

Kingsley Omeihe, Ibiyemi Omeihe

University of the West of Scotland

Young Asian female graduate with baby and partner

Balancing books and babies: empowering graduate-student parents

Juggling academics with family responsibilities is complicated. Barbara Hoopes shares advice on supporting and empowering graduate students who are parents

Barbara Hoopes

Virginia Tech

Student receiving guidance from a teacher

Five steps to prevent student disengagement

Follow this educator's action plan to ensure students at risk of dropping out of their studies feel supported to get back on track

Layal Hakim

The University of Exeter

A man with a baby in a sling checks his laptop while drinking coffee

The art of balance: tips for primary carers in higher education

The dual role of primary caregivers and higher education professional is a delicate balancing act. Here are some strategies for juggling two very demanding endeavours

Monika Shukla

Singapore Institute of Technology

‘What colour is your English?’ Linguistic racism’s impact on faculty of colour

Linguistic racism doesn’t just affect international students – it can hurt the mental health of staff too. Here’s how we can combat it

Sender Dovchin, Vander Tavares

Curtin University, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Supporting parent academics through staff networks

The power of a combined voice can make working life easier for university faculty and staff with children. Here, Judith Lock lays out the challenges of mixing parenthood with academia and how networks lead to more family-friendly campuses

Judith Lock

University of Southampton

Science-backed mental health techniques for students’ well-being

University students have long struggled with academic pressure, social media demands, economic challenges and career uncertainty. This technique uses language and body awareness to help students cope and reset

Erica Coates

Virginia Tech

A laptop screen with deepfake technology

Deepfakes are coming for higher education. What can we do to prepare?

Deepfakes are easier than ever to make, leaving students and academics vulnerable to cyberbullying, reputational damage and educational integrity. Here’s how to be vigilant against them

Jasper Roe, Mike Perkins

James Cook University Singapore, British University Vietnam

How Mozart and the arts can help students feel less awkward

Music and dance give the post-Covid cohort low-stress opportunities to face each other in potentially antagonising – even agonising – set-ups. Here’s how a multisensory curriculum helps students combat feelings of isolation and impostor syndrome

Brigid Cohen , Wendy Anne Lee, Rosemary Quinn, Mimi Yin

New York University

What self-determination theory can do for post-pandemic college students

Incoming university students are more stressed, anxious and distracted than ever. Here’s how to support their psychological needs

Cathy A. Pohan, Melissa Samaniego

Chapman University

Older woman talking to young woman in a professional setting, mentoring

Are you ready to be an invested mentor?

The ‘invested mentor’ model takes mentorship beyond process and logistics. In this model, an effective relationship is based on connection rather than formalities with a mentor who prioritises their mentee’s success

Rebecca Taylor

University College Birmingham

A group of people work around an office table

Create healthy relationships between faculty members for the benefit of everyone

When staff members at an institution work together amicably, student performance improves, a collaborative environment forms and the academic community is made even stronger. Here’s how to do it

Rania Shalaby

Dubai Medical University

Members of Gen Z work in an office lounge

Universities need to act now to bridge the Gen Z gap

Many educators are still struggling to harness the talents of Generation Z and help set them up for employment. Just a few key business changes can make the connection, writes Salah Al-Majeed

Salah Al-Majeed

Al Akhawayn University

Universities need to remember the true value of education

The sector’s focus on cost-effectiveness is overshadowing educational opportunities. Samar Abdelazim Ahmed argues for a redefinition of success

Samar Abdelazim Ahmed

Dubai Medical University

Colourful paper explodes from one wooden head, black paper from the other

Let’s kindle the fire for discovery in our students

In his new book ‘Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth’, Daniel R Porterfield explores how to spark a heat-seeking search for knowledge among undergraduates

Daniel R. Porterfield

Aspen Institute

A lecturer speaking to a student at their desk

Managing empathy fatigue as a teacher

While not technically in the job description, academic professionals support students with recognising and working through their mental health issues. Kshamta Sharma shares techniques to help these staff protect themselves from second hand stress

Kshamta Sharma

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

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