In the first partnership of its kind, the Mentally Healthy Universities programme will be delivered by Local Minds and will reach over 6,000 students and staff across the University of Sheffield and nine other universities across the country. Sheffield Mind and the University of Sheffield’s involvement will take place in year two of the project, in 2020/21.

The programme will provide support and specialist training to complement existing University of Sheffield programmes, designed to equip the University community with the knowledge, skills and confidence to support their own mental health and that of others.

This includes resilience training for students and workplace wellbeing workshops for final year students who are about to graduate and transition into the workplace.

 Susan Bridgeford, Director of Student Support Services at the University of Sheffield, said: “The mental health of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us so we’re delighted to be part of this new initiative, which will complement the support we already provide within our University community.

“We hope that by providing people with the tools and knowledge needed to support their mental health, we’ll be giving students the best university experience possible, as well as equipping students and staff with crucial life skills.”

Lindsay Doyle-Price from Sheffield Mind said, ‘we are really looking forward to working with The University of Sheffield and appreciate the commitment they have shown already to improving the mental wellbeing of their students. We will work closely with staff and students to enhance the support already provided, through a programme of specialist training and peer support. Through these interventions we  hope that staff and students will be better equipped to take care of their own mental health and also to support each other.’

The programme is funded by Goldman Sachs Gives (a donor-advised fund for Goldman Sachs’ current and retired senior employees, to recommend grants to qualifying non-profit organisations) in partnership with national Mind.