Leeds Beckett University will be raising awareness of the importance of mental health with activities for colleagues and students focused around World Mental Health Day on 10 October including theatre performances, miniature therapy ponies and a market place event.

The main theme of World Mental Health Day is suicide prevention and we as a university recognise that we have an important contribution to make, particularly in getting people to talk about a subject that tends to be taboo so that we can challenge myths and learn about the risk factors and how to address them.

We appreciate the importance for colleagues and students of being well and feeling able to cope with life’s challenges. Mental health is important for all of us and we encourage all students and colleagues to engage with the week’s activities.

Organisations we will welcome to the university include the Red Ladder Theatre Company and KL Pony Therapy. The market place for students and colleagues will feature stalls from organisations including MindWell, Samaritans and Andy’s Man Club.

World Mental Health Day events on Thursday 10 October

• Pony therapy – miniature ponies on campus organised through KL Pony Therapy. 10:00-12:00 at Headingley Campus and 13:00-15:00 City Campus.
• World Mental Health Day market place – featuring stalls from organisation including MindWell, Samaritans, Live Well Leeds, Andy’s Man Club, Kooth Student, Battle Scars, Gam Care, Chaplaincy. 11.00-15:00 at The Gateway Corridor, Leslie Silver building.
• Let’s think about love, relationships and community - 40 simple ways to enhance your relationships, mental health and wellbeing. Workshop delivered by Dr Divine Charura, Course Director in the School of Health & Community Studies. 12:00-13:00 at The Gateway, Leslie Silver building.
• Be Well – workshop delivered by Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) which encourages attendees to build an awareness of their own problems and learn coping strategies to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing. 13:00-16:00 at City Campus, room TBC.
• Myth busting and awareness raising of self-harm workshop - delivered by Battle Scars. 13:15-13:45 at The Gateway, Leslie Silver building.
• ‘The Parting Glass’ – Red Ladder Theatre Company is performing a play which explores mental health, masculinity and human connection in a social media-obsessed world. The play will be followed by a panel Q&A to explore what attendees saw and felt about the play. 16:00-18:00 at Perform 1 Studio, Calverley building. Limited tickets are available so advanced bookings are required.
• From Turbulence to Recovery: My Mental Health Journey - Ad Gridley shares his story and experience. 14:30-15:30 WHG01, City Campus.

For more information about wellbeing and resources, colleagues can visit our wellbeing pages: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/staffsite/services/human-resources/working-here/wellbeing-and-occupational-health/wellbeing/. Our wellbeing team will be sharing resources for colleagues throughout the week.

For more information about wellbeing, students can visit our student hub pages: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/