Newnham hosts student mental health workshop to shape University strategy

As part of Cambridge University’s Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Newnham College hosted a mental health focus group this week, discussing challenges around mental wellbeing in Cambridge. This workshop, along with four others held in other colleges, will play a key role in shaping the implementation of the strategy across Cambridge.

The Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy seeks to address concerns across the collegiate University and the sector about increasing levels of poor mental health and wellbeing within the student body.

The Principal, Professor Dame Carol Black, who has been instrumental in shaping the development of the strategy, welcomed students, staff and Senior Members from Newnham and other colleges, for a sensitive discussion of some of the challenges around mental health in Cambridge. People discussed both situations specific to our collegiate University, with its short undergraduate terms, and broader societal issues, such as the rise of social media and financial pressures.

“We all, throughout life, go through ups and downs. We need to understand what the causes are in Cambridge, within our University, that can lead to stress and mental health issues, and we need to understand what we can do to prevent this and to be supportive,” she explained.

Dame Carol emphasised that the strategy should offer a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing to truly achieve its goals. We hope that workshops such as this will be the foundation of a healthy and happy Cambridge experience for all University members.

If you are a member of the University of Cambridge looking for current mental health support, the University Counselling Service website is a good place to start.

Newnham College students looking for current mental health support should also look at the support page on this website.