UoM signs up to inaugural Student Minds Mental Health Charter Programme
29 Jul 2021
The University of Manchester will be joining the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter Programme.
The charter programme, which officially starts in September, will involve an assessment (both self and independent assessment) of our current approach to mental health and wellbeing for our students and staff. It will allow us to work with colleagues across the University, as well as in partnership with our students, to identify areas of good practice and those areas where we need to improve.
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “I am very proud that The University of Manchester is amongst the first universities to join the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter programme. I wholeheartedly support our commitment to the vision of the Charter in working towards a whole university approach to mental health and wellbeing.
“Joining the programme is an opportunity to build on our practice at all levels. This includes promoting mental health and wellbeing, working in partnership with students in this area and opportunities to share good practice across the sector.”
Student Minds announced the first group of member institutions on Wednesday 28 July and our decision to register in the first wave of institutions is a reflection of our commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of our community and our determination to address areas where we could do better.
As a member of the charter programme we will be able to actively engage in programme activities, share and learn from good practice with other member institutions and ultimately apply for a Charter Award accreditation.
We will be sharing further information about this process over the coming months – and a fuller announcement will be made as part of a broader student communications campaign in the autumn.
Sarah Littlejohn, Head of Campus Life is the Charter Programme Lead for the University, and Sarah Hartley, Project Officer will take on the role of Charter Programme Coordinator. We will also be appointing a student lead to be part of the small team who will coordinate the process and involve wider groups of colleagues and students as we work through the programme.