Cultivating a community of care: Reflections on a mental resilience training programme in a School of Geography
Topics: Medical and Health Geography
,
,
Keywords: Mental health, students, solidarity
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 63
Authors:
Nick Clare, University of Nottingham
Mathilde Siou, University of Nottingham
Connor Panter, University of Nottingham
Stephanie Coen, University of Nottingham
,
,
,
,
,
,
Abstract
Issues with student and staff mental health in UK higher education were at epidemic proportions before the COVID-19 pandemic, and have only been exacerbated by increased isolation, uncertainty, and anxiety. Following the tragic suicide of a recent graduate, staff and students in the School of Geography at The University of Nottingham have attempted to embed a real focus on mental health into our equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) work under the rubric of care ethics. We hold that cultivating a ‘care-ful’ and empathetic community is foundational to making meaningful EDI transformation. To this end, we have developed a programme that focuses on mental health ‘resilience’ and ‘first aid’ through an approach that explicitly works to bring together staff and students across all points in their time at university, seeking to build solidarity and empathy between these two, all too often separated, groups. In this discussion we would like to focus on some of the success and challenges we have faced in trying to foster a culture of care. In particular we are keen to discuss: the gendered nature of some mental health concerns and how we have tried to respond to these; the benefits and challenges of building staff-student solidarity; and the potential limitations to discourses of ‘resilience’. The discussion will involve both staff and students involved with the scheme.
Cultivating a community of care: Reflections on a mental resilience training programme in a School of Geography
Category
Virtual Paper Abstract
Description
This abstract is part of a session. Click here to view the session.
| Slides