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College signs up to Mental Health Charter

10th October 2024 – Tags: Wellbeing

To coincide with World Mental Health Day, Paston College has today pledged to meet the standards set out in the Association of Colleges’ Mental Health Charter.

The Charter sets out a whole-college approach to mental health and wellbeing principles. It sets out standards for the leadership and ethos of the college, support for students, workplace wellbeing, and demonstrating that our actions to support mental health are making a difference.

Underpinning our pledge is a college-wide action plan that sets out what Paston College is doing to create an environment that promotes student and staff wellbeing and that proactively supports their mental health.

Our wellbeing services are supported by links with a wide range of local partners, including Mancroft Advice Project, Sue Lambert Trust and The Harbour Centre, Norfolk Young Carers, Norwich International Youth Project, Norwich YAB (Youth Advisory Board), Nelson’s Journey and Cruse Bereavement Care, The Matthew Project, Norfolk MIND, and CAMHS.

We will work with our student and staff body to develop our mental health action plan, building on and improving our existing mental health support.

Mental health support for students

We have a range of services, support and information which we hope helps you to feel happy, healthy and safe whilst you study with us at the college.

The Wellbeing Team​​​​​​​: Our Wellbeing Team can support you and give you guidance on a range of issues. The team can offer wellbeing support in person, by phone or by email.  ​

They can give you information and services to help with a range of health and wellbeing issues, such as: depression, anxiety and stress​; self-harm​; eating disorders​; healthy eating​; body image; support for addiction​; sexual health and contraception​; pregnancy and abortion; healthy relationships​; domestic abuse​; sexual abuse​; bullying; stalking​; young carers and young adult carers​; managing money​; and housing.

If you would like support, you can contact the Wellbeing Team by:

Mental heath resources: We have lots of information leaflets, flyers and links to helpful websites for you to use. You can access our wellbeing resources by clicking here. We also have a Mental Health Adviser within our Wellbeing team who can support students who have a mental health diagnosis while they study at college. In order to be referred to our Mental Health Adviser, please first submit a self referral form to the Wellbeing team.

Counselling​: We are able to offer 6 sessions of free counselling sessions to students. Counselling may be offered face to face or via phone.​ In order to be referred to our counselling team, please first submit a self referral form to the Wellbeing team.

The counsellors aim to enable learners to deal more effectively with their problems, concerns, difficulties or dilemmas by providing a confidential, caring and private environment in which learners feel accepted, confident and relaxed enough to be able to talk freely about any matters that concern them.​

Mental health support for staff

Mental Health First Aiders: We have a team of Mental Health First Aiders, with trained colleagues on each of our sites. They are a point of contact if you, or someone you are concerned about, is experiencing poor mental health or emotional distress. They are not therapists or psychiatrists but they can give you initial support and signpost you to appropriate help if required. Contact details can be found on the HR Gateway on Sharepoint.

BHSF Mental health support: All staff have access to counselling support through BHSF. You can call their mental health support line on 0800 072 0353. Six free sessions of counselling are available through the scheme.

A whole-college approach

Helen Richardson-Hulme, Assistant Principal, Student Services, said:

Challenges that impact our mental health and wellbeing can affect any one of us, at any time. As a college, we recognise our responsibility to create an environment that promotes student and staff wellbeing and proactively supports student and staff mental health.

 

The AoC’s Mental Health Charter provides a helpful and relevant framework within which to develop our mental health support. Signing up to the Charter is a public statement of our commitment to a whole-college approach to mental health and wellbeing.”