In support of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, we are highlighting welfare provision for students at Univ. We have also included below useful links to further information about support available for all students within the College and the University.

The following article was previously published in the latest issue of the College magazine, The Martlet. It was written with the assistance of Revd Dr Andrew Gregory, Chaplain and Welfare Fellow, and Jo Hoskins, Student Disability and Welfare Officer.

Many people contribute to the welfare and wellbeing of students at the College in a range of ways that are intended to offer a positive and supportive academic environment in which students may flourish. Opportunities to establish relationships with tutors, effective teaching, well-resourced and accessible libraries, other academic support, good food and well-managed accommodation all play an important part, as do welcoming faces at the Lodge, in the Buttery, the Hall and elsewhere.

Taken together, these elements contribute to a person-centred and College-wide approach to student welfare and wellbeing that begins and extends far beyond the tailored individual
support that we offer to students who face particular challenges or needs while they may be here. This approach starts by focussing on how best to support our teaching and research, since they are central to our academic purpose and self-understanding. But it also recognises that students learn best when they can focus on their studies, secure in the knowledge that their basic needs are recognised and catered for, and that other forms of support are also available, both in the College and in the wider University.

For some students, that will mean the opportunity to speak in confidence to a member of staff who will listen attentively as a student may figure out for themselves what they may need to do, or where they may need to go for a particular form of assistance or advice. It may mean receiving emotional support, information or advice on options open to them in the circumstances that they face, help with applying for reasonable adjustments for special educational needs or disabilities, financial assistance, or signposting towards support that may be available through the University Counselling Service, the University Disability Advisory Service, the NHS or elsewhere. In some cases, one meeting or conversation may be all that is required for a student to decide what seems best for them. In others, a student may meet regularly with one or more members of staff for a longer period of time – possibly throughout the duration of their degree.

The College recognises that some students may feel more comfortable approaching one person rather than one another, so we have a range of people in our welfare team, and students are reminded of their names, roles and contact details on a regular basis. Two members of staff are full-time, and students can knock on their doors or make appointments in advance if they wish to talk about anything that may be affecting their welfare or wellbeing. One is Andrew Gregory, the Chaplain and Welfare Fellow, who leads the welfare team and is responsible for the development and implementation of welfare-related policies and chairs the panel which looks after financial support. The other is Jo Hoskins, our Student Disability and Welfare Officer, who co-ordinates support for students with disabilities and can advise on disability-related adjustments. Other members of the team include our College Nurse, Victoria Manellari, our College Counsellor, Marigold Brown, and our Adviser for International Students, Jing Fang. Junior Deans, who are senior graduate students with welfare-related training, also play an important role.

We hope that all students will feel able to approach a member of the welfare team should they wish to, to find support that works for them, and to be in a position to determine the
best way forward in whatever circumstances they may face.

Useful links

Welfare support at Univ

Welfare support at the University of Oxford

University of Oxford – ten tips for looking after your mental health

Events

Kellogg College and Oxfordshire Mind have organised an open and inspiring World Mental Health Day event on Friday, 10 October, 5-7pm (free to attend). A panel of experts will explore how we can challenge stigma, support wellbeing, and create healthier, more inclusive workplaces. Students, professionals, employers and all those who care about mental health are warmly welcomed to join the conversation. Find out more on the Kellogg website.

This feature was adapted from one first published in Issue 17 of The Martlet; read the full magazine here or explore our back catalogue of Martlets below:

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