University Mental Health Day at Keele

University Mental Health Day brings together the university community to make mental health a university-wide priority and create ongoing year round change to the future of student mental health.

The Start to Success Team organised a programme of wellbeing activities for Keele Students on University Mental Health Day in March. The aim of the campaign is to promote health and wellbeing to students, raising awareness of existing initiatives, showing them how they can use the Keele campus to keep well, and giving them the opportunity to try something new.

In the morning, the Keele Peer Supporters hosted a Tea & Talk event, where students were treated to a free hot drink and cake, and were invited to contribute to the Wellbeing Wall by answering questions about student mental health. Award winning poet, writer, lyricist and educator, Jamie Thrasivoulou presented some spoken word poetry relating to his experiences of mental health, and also led a creative writing workshop for students. A ‘crafternoon’ took place where students could take time out in the afternoon to do some crafts including tote bag decorating, pom pom making and pottery. Other activities included a gardening session, campus litter pick, wellbeing walk, nutritional advice from Keele’s Executive Chef, free Active Keele Sessions and campus treasure hunt.

A one day step challenge was also arranged, where staff and students from across the university were encouraged to do 10,000 steps on University Mental Health Day to be entered into a prize draw to win a Fitbit.

The following day, the team headed to the Clinical Education Centre to visit our student nurses, and brought some pizza and ping pong sets - all of which was very well received!

Over 300 members of the Keele Community, both students and staff engaged with the campaign and the Start to Success Team received some really positive feedback.