Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
You can find here a comprehensive list of support available to University members in the Mental Health and wellbeing space.
SUPPORT FOR STAFF
Employee assistance programme
University staff now have access to an Employee Assistance Programme, delivered by Health Assured – the UK’s leading wellbeing provider. Health Assured is a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with any personal and professional problems that may affect your home or work life, health, and general wellbeing.
It is a complete support network that offers expert advice and guidance 24/7, including:
- Counselling for emotional problems and a pathway to structured therapy sessions;
- Legal information for issues that cause anxiety or distress;
- Bereavement support, including access to experienced counsellors and legal advisors;
- Medical information: Qualified nurses are on hand to offer support on a range of medical or health-related issues offering practical information and advice (not 24/7);
- Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): a range of self-help modules, informative fact sheets and invaluable advice videos from leading qualified counsellors; and
- A wellbeing app and portal offering Live Chat and a virtual library of wellbeing articles and guides.
To find out more about the free and confidential services available to you and how to access them, please visit Health Assured | Staff Gateway (ox.ac.uk). Health Assured is part of the University’s staff wellbeing programme Thriving at Oxford.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Occupational Health provides a service that promotes and supports physical and mental wellbeing in the workplace. It offers a range of services including advice to managers, the employee counselling service (more below) and health surveillance.
THRIVING AT OXFORD
A new Oxford programme supporting you to feel and perform at your best as part of the University community: Thriving at Oxford launched in MT 2022.
The University is committed to creating an environment where "everybody is supported to feel and perform at their best as part of the University community".
Bullying and Harassment
EDU Bullying and Harassment webpages
Information for staff and students on the University's response to harassment and bullying including support and advice.
BULLYING AND HARASSMENT ADVISORS
If you or someone you know within the University is experiencing bullying or harassment, get in touch with the Harassment Advisory Service or your local Advisors for support and advice on the procedure. More information about the harassment procedure can be found on these webpages. Medical Sciences Division (MSD) Bullying and harassment advisors can be found here MSD Harassment Network.
Support for disabled staff
Disability webpages
Information, support and guidance for disabled staff at the University, including:
Reasonable Adjustments for disabled staff
Reasonable adjustments for mental ill-health
NEUROVIDERSITY SUPPORT
The University pages on Support for Neurodivergent staff contain a wealth of resources and links, to join the ‘Neurodiversity at Oxford’ mailing list send an email to the project.
WORKING PARENTS
WORKING PARENTS PEER SUPPORT
For working parents there is a new Working Parents at Oxford Teams group to make connections with other working parents across the University. You can join and hear about new events, services and activity, and connect with other folk who are facing the same issues as you.
RAINBOW FAMILIES PEER SUPPORT
Parents who identify as LGBTQIA can join the LGBT+ Staff Network teams space which has a specific channel for rainbow families to connect and access mutual support.
FOR STUDENTS
STUDENT COUNSELLING SERVICE
All students at the University have access to a free student counselling service provided by Welfare and Student Support. They also provide advice to staff who are concerned about students.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE SUPPORT SERVICE - FOR STUDENTS
The Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service provides a safe space for students to be heard, with advisors offering free support and advice to any current student who has been impacted by sexual harassment or violence. All specialist advisors at the service are trained to support you at your pace, free of charge and in confidence.
Support for disabled students
Information, support and guidance for current and prospective students with disabilities can be found on these EDU webpages.
Student mental health e-learning for university / college staff
A free e-learning package for all university / college staff from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust is now available. For students in distress, the first point of contact is often with non-specialist university/ college staff. The first conversation students have with a member of staff like this can be vital – in ensuring they receive a warm, empathic and understanding response to help them immediately, and that they are then signposted, if necessary, to receive help from a mental health specialist.
Developed by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, this new e-learning package is designed to give non-specialist staff the skills, knowledge and confidence to offer this first line of support. Introduced by well-known TV presenter Alexander Armstrong, the package consists of six, easy-to-follow 20-minute sessions, including: Signs to look out for, key helping skills, knowing who else to involve, and supporting students at risk or in crisis.
PEER SUPPORT - FOR STUDENTS
The Peer Support Programme was developed in the early 1990s in recognition of the essential role students play in supporting and encouraging one another on a day-to-day basis throughout their time at university. Students can seek peer support from other students at the University.