Strategy and Commitment

The Wellbeing strategy sets out our approach over the next 4 years to support our community to maintain positive wellbeing; manage problems and support the prevention of mental and physical ill health, reinforcing the Aberdeen 2040 commitment to care for the wellbeing of our diverse community. It is underpinned by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy and the Policy on the Management of Work Related Stress .

Read the Student Mental Health Agreement to find out about the Aberdeen Students Union and The University of Aberdeen's (UoA) commitment to improving the mental wellbeing of all students.

Mind's Mental Health at Work Commitment

We are proud to have signed Mind's Mental Health at Work Commitment, publicly pledging our commitment to you and your mental health. Our Mental Health at Work Commitment is supported by our Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan.

Over the coming months we will:

• Enhance our network of Mental Health First Aiders, enabling them to challenge stigma, raise awareness about mental health, and provide supportive listening and signposting to our community.

• Reduce the stigma attached to mental ill-health, ensuring that both physical and mental ill-health are prioritised with appropriate support, acknowledging that tailored approaches will be required to meet individual needs.
• Create guidance and training opportunities for line managers in wellbeing issues which may affect their staff. For example, being able to identify when an employee may need additional support; managing sensitive conversations and knowing how to offer support.

For further details and to feedback, please contact wellbeing@abdn.ac.uk

Our commitment to being a Suicide Safer University

Our large diverse community of is made up of local and international staff and students. Suicide can impact anyone, at any time in their life, however there are groups which are most vulnerable; and students are at greater risk when compared to the general population, as referenced in the Scottish Suicide prevention strategy (2022 - 2032). The direct and indirect impact of suicide is immeasurable - family, friends, colleagues and the community, as such universities have a crucial role to play in the promotion of open, compassionate discussion and education, as well as risk mitigation, intervention, prevention, and postvention support throughout the entire university community.

The University of Aberdeen considers suicide prevention and awareness a strategic priority, taking a whole university approach towards raising awareness, transforming cultures, and making a commitment to prevention. The development of this Suicide Safer commitment is a key aspect of achieving the ambition laid out in the University's Wellbeing Strategy 2021 - 2025 to care for the wellbeing, health and safety of our diverse community. It must be acknowledged that this commitment cannot mitigate all eventualities and recognises that not all suicide is preventable.

The University champions sector best practise and aligns its policy and practice with the Scottish Government's Suicide Prevention Strategy: Creating Hope Together , and Universities UK, Suicide-safer universities guidance .

This commitment is underpinned by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy and the Stress Management at Work Policy and Wellbeing strategy and interlinks with other strands of work including the Emily Test Charter. Success will be determined by continual learning, strong communication and partnerships.

Aims

To minimise the risk and wide-reaching impact of suicide within our community (both staff and students) by becoming a suicide safer university with a robust supportive environment and culture of openness where we share a deep understanding of the routes of support and risks. We will empower and enable our community to take an active role in reducing risk of suicide, accessing support and tackling associated stigma.

1) Prevention and awareness

With the understanding that suicide prevention requires a whole university approach we will continue to promote an open, non-judgmental culture in which our entire community have the necessary information to identify signs of suicide, access support and feel able to do so.

2) Intervention

We will ensure routes of support (internal and external) are clear and accessible to all, taking a collaborative approach (internally and externally) to monitor and support high risk individuals.

3) Postvention

Through a clear and flexible postvention plan we will provide tailored short and long term support for individuals.

Success Targets

• Creation of an open culture in relation to mental health
• Community wide understanding of everyone's role in suicide prevention
• Enhanced partnership with RGU and NEScol) with share protocol in prevention, intervention and postvention
• Creation, documentation and integration of standard operating procedures linked to management of students of concern; creation of Student Case Management Group and Remit; Institutional risk assessments.
• Secure successful award of EmilyTest Charter and maintain this once achieved.

Metrics for Measuring Success

• Number of staff attending training courses
• Relevant staff and student webpages link clicks
• Internal support service data, feedback, and satisfaction (staff and students)
• External support service contract monitoring data
• Reduction in indicators of stress
• Number of staff trained to recognise the signs of stress on mental ill health
• Effectiveness of MHFA to support mental health of the community
• Data from the Staff Survey and Aberdeen Student Experience Survey
• Assess and monitor Student Reality V Student Expectations through regular feedback

Our health and well-being can be greatly influenced by the environment in which we live. From the quality of the air we breathe to the green spaces we preserve for recreational activities, our environment is instrumental in supporting our wellbeing.

In a range of simple ways, by taking care of the environment we can enhance our own sense of well-being. For example, activities like walking or cycling to work not only help to preserve our environment by cutting back on vehicle emissions but also help to keep you fit and healthy.

As a University we are committed to limiting our operational impact on the environment and support initiatives that encourage the University community to be more sustainable. From energy efficiency and waste reduction, to encouraging more active travel, you can find out more about these commitments by visiting: Environment and Sustainability

Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Working Group meet quarterly and is overseen by the Head of Health, Safety and Resilience and the Head of Experience, Engagement and Wellbeing.

The aim of this working group is to implement the University of Aberdeen's Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy and Strategy.

These aim to achieve the objectives to:

1. Embed a culture of openness regarding mental health and wellbeing issues;
2. Engage with the University community to establish how the University can improve the mental health and wellbeing support available;
3. Increase awareness-raising and communication strategies to promote the wide range of health and wellbeing services available to staff and students within the University;
4. Empower staff and students to recognise and support colleagues and peers who may require help to achieve mental health and wellbeing goals.

• Minutes from the meeting held on 27th January 2020
• Minutes from the meeting held on 9th April 2020
• Minutes from the meeting held on 27th July 2020
• Minutes from the meeting held on 16th October 2020
• Minutes from the meeting held on 15th January 2021
• Minutes from the meeting held on 21st April 2021
• Minutes from the meeting held on 1st July 2021
• Minutes from the meeting held on 12th October 2021
• Minutes from the meeting held on 25th January 2022
• Minutes from the meeting held on 27th April 2022
• Minutes from the meeting held on 23rd August 2022
• Minutes from the meeting held on 13th December 2022
• Minutes from the meeting held on 17th March 2023
• Minutes from the meeting held on 13th June 2023
• Minutes from the meeting held on 6th September 2023
• Minutes from the meeting held on 12th March 2024
• Terms of Reference

If a staff member or a student would like to request a copy of the Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan, or wish to feed in issues or to provide feedback on the work undertaken by the group please email wellbeing@abdn.ac.uk

BeWell has been designed to support staff and students throughout the year! The Employee Wellbeing section of StaffNet details all opportunities for staff to improve and maintain good wellbeing, where as the BeWell section of the Student website details how the University supports students during key times of the year.