Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
Thank you to all those that took part in the MPLS Mental Health Awareness Week programme which was open to all University staff and students! However, this is just the start of the conversation as we realise that mental health is something that should be supported all year round.
Throughout the week we offered a variety of free talks, workshops and creative activities aimed at supporting mental health, along with opportunities to access a wealth of local support and services.
See below to watch the recorded talks, links to the daily emails and information to find out more.
Recorded videos from the week:
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About Anxiety Dr Ruth Collins is the University’s Staff Mental Health Training Development Coordinator and is also an experienced psychologist, psychotherapist and mindfulness practitioner providing counselling and psychotherapy for young people, adults and older adults. In this session, Ruth introduced the importance of being aware of and talking about mental health, with a particular focus on anxiety. |
About Oxfordshire Mind Patrick Dawson from Oxfordshire Mind talks about the support and resources available through Oxfordshire Mind. |
About the Samaritans In this video Matt Williams discusses the unique listening service that Samaritans provides. Matt also shares his experience of supporting those going through a tough time. Matt offers practical hints and tips to help us really listen to those in crisis and suggest techniques that we can use in our everyday lives. Matt believes that suicide prevention is everybody's business and is keen to challenge many of the misunderstandings, myths and taboos around this difficult subject. |
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The Route to Resilience Dr Jennifer Wild, Visiting Professor, Department of Experimental Psychology, discusses how certain people overcome enormous stress and anxiety, while others struggle. She presented seven key tools that can help us manage stress and anxiety in our own lives and examine the science of why they work. |
Understanding & Exploring the Imposter Syndrome Dr Kate Atkin gives you an understanding of the imposter syndrome, why it really is a phenomenon, and whether it might apply to you. She gives some key tips on how to spot the imposter chatter in yourselves and how to quieten that internal voice, as well as tips for supporting others. |
Resources from our daily emails:
Day 1:
Resources included:
- Video of the day: When stress turns bad
- Article of the day: Managing stress
Day 2:
Resources included:
- Podcast of the day: Oxford Mindfulness Foundation Podcasts
- Video of the day: Our Mental Wellness: Overcoming Sleep Problems
Day 3:
Resources included:
- Video of the day: Meet your bird neighbours
Day 4:
Resources included:
- Podcast of the day: Biology back Garden
- Article of the day: What can we do to cope with feelings of anxiety?
Day 5:
Resources included:
- Video of the day: 3 steps of anxiety overload -- and how you can take back control
- Movement of the day: 10 Mindful Movements with Thich Nhat Hanh
All events that took place during the week:
Monday 15 May
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10:00-10:30 ONLINE |
ACTIVITY: 20 minute Gratitude Meditation Session NO LONGER TAKING BOOKINGS In today's fast-paced world, stress and anxiety are two emotions that we all are very familiar with. Whether it's the pressures of work, relationships, or simply the daily grind – stress (when left unmanaged) can take a toll on our mental and physical health. That's why, for Mental Health Awareness Week this year, we are inviting you to take a moment to pause and recalibrate. Rebecca Reed (founder of Siendo) will be joining us on Zoom to take us through a 20-minute guided meditation so that you can start your Monday off the right way. No matter whether you're new to meditation or a meditation Jedi, this session will provide you with a beautiful moment of calm and tranquillity. |
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11:00-12:00 ONLINE |
ACTIVITY: Tai Chi NO LONGER TAKING BOOKINGS This Tai Chi Class will be run by Tom Gold-Blyth, who has been teaching Tai Chi since 2003 and doing lots of work in mental health as the Tai Chi teacher for Khiron House for over 10 years. The session will be tailored for beginners although people at all levels are welcome and will be held on Zoom. We are running an additional in-person session on Friday, in University Parks. |
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11:30-12:30 IN-PERSON |
ACTIVITY: Jericho Jaunt FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. In-person, capacity 15 A late morning jaunt around the most fashionable part of Oxford taking in colourful narrow boats, Italianate churches, ex-Victorian slums, the edge of Port Meadow and the Trap Grounds with a rich variety of wildlife habitats. |
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12:30-13:30 ONLINE |
TALK: About Mental Health – Anxiety FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. Dr Ruth Collins is the University’s Staff Mental Health Training Development Coordinator and is also an experienced psychologist, psychotherapist and mindfulness practitioner providing counselling and psychotherapy for young people, adults and older adults. In this session, Ruth will introduce the importance of being aware of and talking about mental health, with a particular focus on anxiety. |
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13:00-14:00 IN-PERSON Maths Institute, Andrew Wiles Building |
ACTIVITY: Singing with the Oxford Belles (taking place in the Maths Institute (Andrew Wiles Building)) In-person, capacity 60 Liven up your lunchtime with an hour of singing, courtesy of the University’s original all-female-identifying a cappella group. On Monday 15 May, you could be an Oxford Belle for the day – doing our vocal warm-ups, singing sections from our songs, and performing with us at the end. Everybody is welcome, and absolutely no experience is required – just a willingness to learn and live out your pop star dreams. We hope to see lots of you there! |
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15:00-16:00 IN-PERSON AND ONLINE Department of Materials |
TALK: Looking after your mental health: an essential skill for PGRs and ECRs at the Department of Materials In-person capacity will be limited to 50 and people from the Department of Materials will be prioritised here as Materials are organising this session. There is no online capacity limit. Research within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) disciplines can be a stimulating and rewarding career path, but it also brings pressures and challenges. There is increasing awareness within the higher education sector of the need to guide postgraduate and early career researchers in understanding issues around mental health and developing their own good practices in maintaining their wellbeing. In this session, Professor Graham McCartney (founder of Jonathan’s Voice), will address that need by talking through the following topics:
The session will be relevant not only to PGR students and early career researchers but also to those wanting to learn how to better support these groups. |
Tuesday 16 May
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8:30-10:00 IN-PERSON |
ACTIVITY: Private view of the Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth and Reality exhibition at the Ashmolean FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. In-person, capacity 70 Start your morning with a stroll through the tranquil and inspirational galleries of the Ashmolean Museum by enjoying exclusive private access to their current special exhibition, Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth and Reality. This exhibition explores one of the most infamous of classical myths and celebrated stories of modern archaeology: the Labyrinth, the Minotaur and the Palace of Knossos. It features more than 200 objects, over 100 of which are on loan from Athens and Crete. Come and discover the exciting moments when the Palace of Knossos was uncovered between 1900-1905. Tea and coffee will be served in the Rooftop Restaurant from 08:30, followed by private access to the exhibition from 09:00-10:00. |
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10:00-11:00 IN-PERSON AND ONLINE Department of Materials |
TALK: Asperger's and Me - a talk by Professor Roger Reed In-person capacity is 50 In this session Prof Reed will talk through aspects of his lived experience as an academic in STEM with Asperger’s syndrome. The talk will briefly describe what Autism and Asperger’s syndrome are, how the characteristics present in working life and beyond, along with how others react to these characteristics, and some of the less apparent implications. The talk will run for about 30 mins with remaining time for a Q&A session. The session will be useful for those from all career stages and career paths, whether neurodivergent or neurotypical. |
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10:50-11:50 IN-PERSON History of Science Museum |
ACTIVITY: Life, the Universe, and my sketchbook at the History of Science Museum FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS In-person, capacity 10 Enter the oldest purpose-built public museum in the world (which opened in 1683) and come and enjoy a short introduction to objects that explore our connection to each other across time and to the universe itself, followed by a space to sketch and relax. No skill level needed – everyone is welcome to come and enjoy this mindful activity. Sketchbooks are provided and can be taken home as a keepsake. |
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13:00-14:00 IN-PERSON Statistics |
ACTIVITY: Mental Health TED Talks at the Department of Statistics The Department of Statistics will be streaming a range of existing TED Talks relating to Mental Health in their lecture theatre. All are welcome to join. |
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16:00-17:00 IN-PERSON Biology, South Parks Road |
TALK & ACTIVITY: Tour of the Herbaria at the Biology Building on South Parks Road FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. In-person, capacity 20 Join Stephen Harris, the Druce Curator of the Oxford Herbaria, for a behind the scenes tour of this amazing collection. Oxford University Herbaria had its origins in the mid-seventeenth century with the foundation of the Oxford Physic Garden. Today it comprises approximately one million specimens, of which there are at least 35,000 types. Stephen will share some of the stories of a few of the collections specimens. Due to the size of the space, capacity will be limited to a maximum of 20 people (spaces will be allocated on a first-come first serve basis). |
Wednesday 17 May
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9:30-10:30 IN-PERSON Location TBC |
TALK: About Mental Health: Perfectionism We all value high standards in our academic and personal activities. However, the relentless pursuit of excessively high standards can become self-defeating, contributing to high levels of anxiety, stress and low mood. This presentation will offer a thoughtful space to think about how perfectionism can develop and will offer ideas and strategies to support alternative, more effective approaches. |
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10:30-11:30 ONLINE |
TALK: About Oxfordshire Mind Oxfordshire Mind is a local mental health charity that has been campaigning for better mental health in Oxfordshire for over 50 years. Patrick Dawson will highlight the range of services and support available from Oxfordshire Mind. |
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12:00-13:00 IN-PERSON Location TBC |
ACTIVITY: Mindful Craft Club FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. In-person, capacity 20 Join Alison Brindle for a relaxed hour where you can focus on your own craft project in the company of fellow crafters. As well as working part-time in Medical Sciences, Alison also be found one day a week working at the Oxford Yarn Store on North Parade, indulging in all the woolly goodness! Alison will open the session with a five-minute breathing exercise to centre us all, followed by a few minutes of silent crafting to absorb ourselves in the activity (the movement, feel, touch etc). We will then have a discussion as we craft on what people see as the benefits of their particular craft (be they social, mental, physical etc). All crafters and creatives welcome, from knitting and crocheting through to sketching, and everything else in between! |
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13:00-14:00 ONLINE |
TALK: Samaritans – How to listen and support those facing a tough time As part of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week, Matt Williams from Oxford Samaritans, will offer a session about the unique listening service that Samaritans provides and share his experience of supporting those going through a tough time. Matt will offer practical hints and tips to help us really listen to those in crisis and suggest techniques that we can use in our everyday lives. Matt believes that suicide prevention is everybody's business and is keen to challenge many of the misunderstandings, myths and taboos around this difficult subject. |
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14:00-15:00 IN-PERSON AND ONLINE Wolfson Meeting Room, Engineering & Technology Building, Dept of Materials |
PANEL DISCUSSION: Anxiety in Academia (panel consisting of post-docs and academics from the Department of Materials) In-person capacity is 20, online has no limit. The theme for MHAW week is #ToHelpMyAnxiety. Anxiety is a normal response that we all feel from time to time usually when under pressure or stress. Occasional short periods of anxiety can be helpful and motivate action. Too much anxiety is a bad thing, and if it becomes persistent, extreme and, out of line with the situation anxiety can impair our ability to function. Our panel are post-doc researchers and academics in the Materials department. They are not expert psychologists but they are willing to talk about anxiety and enter into some discussion of the aspects of academia that may present challenges, possible ways to navigate them and/or support others through them. We will solicit topics and questions for discussion ahead of time via anonymous on-line survey. |
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15:00-16:00 IN-PERSON Location TBC |
ACTIVITY: Talking Space with Restore: Anxiety FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. In-person, capacity 20 The mental health charity Restore are running a 'talking space' session for those wishing to share their experiences of anxiety in a safe space with other peers. Anxiety can feel isolating, and hearing you are not alone in your experiences can be powerful. Sharing is not compulsory - coming along just to listen is absolutely fine too. Julie from Restore will facilitate this session and help coach us through some coping mechanisms, as well as deepen our understanding of anxiety. |
Thursday 18 May
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09:00-10:00 ONLINE |
TALK: The Route to Resilience Dr Jennifer Wild, Visiting Professor, Department of Experimental Psychology discusses how certain people overcome enormous stress and anxiety, while others struggle. She will present seven key tools that can help us manage stress and anxiety in our own lives and examine the science of why they work. |
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12:00-13:00 IN-PERSON Location TBC but likely University Parks |
ACTIVITY: Walk with Wolfie the Wonderful Dog FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. In-person, capacity 15 Looking for a way to destress during Mental Health Awareness Week? Come meet Wolfie, the calm and friendly dog, and his owner Michaela who is a trained Mental Health First Aider. Join us for a relaxing and informative experience that will give you the opportunity to take a break with a lovely four-legged friend, and/or find out more about Mental Health First Aiders – what they can offer or what it’s like to be one!
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13:00-14:00 IN-PERSON University Parks |
ACTIVITY: Guided Tour of the University Parks FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. In-person, capacity 15 Stephen Harris, the Druce Curator of the Oxford Herbaria, will guide a gentle educational stroll around the Oxford University Parks. The tour will introduce the history of the Parks and highlight some of the collection of trees and plants. |
Friday 19 May
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10:00-10:20 ONLINE |
ACTIVITY: Mindful Movement Too much time sitting at your desk? Not enough time to get out for a walk or exercise? Join Alison Brindle (MSD) for a 15-minute, low-impact and relaxing session focusing on simple stretches and gentle movement. No special equipment or previous knowledge is required. No sweat is expected, and yes, you can keep your camera off! While Alison is not a trained physio, she learned these exercises while visiting a retreat centre in France a few years back. They are based on the '10 Mindful Movements' practice of Thich Nhat Hanh. |
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11:00-12:00 IN-PERSON Location TBC, likely University Parks |
ACTIVITY: Tai Chi FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. This Tai Chi Class will be run by Tom Gold-Blyth, who has been teaching Tai Chi since 2003 and working in a supportive mental health setting for over 10 years as the Tai Chi teacher for Khiron House. The session will be tailored for beginners although people at all levels are welcome and will be held in-person at University Parks. We are running an online session earlier in the week on Monday. |
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12:00-13:30 ONLINE |
TALK: Understanding and Exploring the Imposter Syndrome Do you experience a nagging doubt that you could be ‘found out’, or perhaps you put your success down to luck or timing? Have you ever noticed a need to be perfect and avoid making mistakes because they would ‘prove’ you are not up to the job? Would you like to feel more confident, and put yourself forward for new projects, opportunities or even promotion – or encourage your staff to do so? Many people have a voice inside that says they could do so much more, at work, in their community or at home. The internal chatter is sometimes accompanied by a lack of confidence which can prevent you from reaching your potential. Success also comes with its own trials. Many high achievers have an internal voice asking: ‘did they really mean to promote me?’, ‘am I really good enough?’, ‘what if they find me out?’... and it can be really stressful! This could be ‘imposter chatter’, and the irony is that the real frauds don’t tend to experience these thoughts at all. The aim of this session is to give you an understanding of the imposter syndrome, why it really is a phenomenon, and whether it might apply to you. You will leave with some key tips on how to spot the imposter chatter in yourselves and how to quieten that internal voice, as well as tips for supporting others (clue: do not tell people they are amazing – it can make their imposter chatter even worse; you will find out why). |
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13:30-14:30 IN-PERSON |
ACTIVITY: Walk and Talk in the University Parks In-person, capacity 15 Put yourself at the top of your 'to-do' list. Log off, decompress, and potter around the Parks. |
MONDAY 22 MAY
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19:00-20:00 IN-PERSON Museum of Natural History |
ACTIVITY: Museum of Natural History: A Song for the Heart FULLY BOOKED, NO LONGER ACCEPTING BOOKINGS. in-person, capacity 60 Lie back and relax as you watch the sun setting over our glass roof, learning about birdsongs and the dawn chorus. In 2019, scientists at the University of Surrey studied the 'restorative benefits of birdsong'; testing if it really does improve our mood. They discovered that, of all the natural sounds that were investigated, birdsong and bird calls were the most often cited in helping people recover from stress, allowing them to restore a sense of peace and refocus their attention. We invite you to bring along your yoga mat, cushions, or relax in one of our chairs as you listen to the dawn chorus recorded in Harcourt Arboretum and watch the sunset. We'll also help you learn to recognise common British birds from their songs and share some interesting facts about our favourite dawn singers. |