Mental Health Event To Break Down Barriers
26 November 2010
Nicola Adler, Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator.
Hundreds of students and staff members took part in yoga and boxing try-outs, and accessed a library of touching personal stories, when the University's Kedleston Road site hosted a Human Library Emotional Wellbeing Event.
Better Together Campaign
The event last month (November), supported by mental health charity Rethink and the Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, was held as part of the University's Better Together campaign; which is focused on raising awareness of mental health, disability and stress issues.
Visitors took the opportunity to speak to experts from voluntary and statutory mental health organisations including Derbyshire Alcohol Advice service, Derbyshire Young Carers and Rethink.
Nicola Adler, Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator, said: "It was a really good day. Lots of staff members and students visited the stands, and the workshops on yoga, boxercise and creative writing were very popular.
"We also had an innovative stand, the Human Library, where visitors could choose a 'living book' and then listen to this person's mental health story. This was a really informal and interactive way to help people to better understand mental health issues."
New Online Health Assessment For Staff
The University's Health, Safety and Wellbeing team took the opportunity to launch the new 'Fitness2live' online health assessment available to staff.
Fitness2live's online service includes free health assessments, weight loss and lifestyle plans; as well as having access to an extensive library of fitness and nutrition articles and hundreds of healthy recipes. Staff can access Fitness2live on website www.firstassistonline.com by entering the University's unique code found on November payslips.
More information for staff can accessed through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing team website at www.derby.ac.uk/bettertogether
The University has a dedicated Student Wellbeing Service to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of students. Find out more about the support available at www.derby.ac.uk/student-wellbeing.
