January is a tough month people and can be the month we
struggle the most to get through, but we’re nearly there! January is almost
over.
Before the festive break, we shared some wellbeing
resources and support to help you, if needed, during that period. With
February fast approaching, we want to reassure you that the health and
wellbeing of all colleagues and students is of the utmost importance to the
University.
Over the next couple of months, we will be focusing on
mental and physical wellbeing, with a range of events scheduled.
Commit To
Fit this New Year with [EN]GAGE
If your New Year’s resolutions include fitness goals, [EN]GAGE is here to help.
Our gym includes a fully kitted fitness suite and sports
performance area, and our friendly staff are always happy to offer advice. We
cater for all levels of fitness and our facilities are here for everyone to
enjoy, with a range of wheelchair-accessible equipment.
Whether your 2023 goal is meeting a daily step count or
lifting weights, we're here to help you.
Check out our membership options and Commit to Fit
this New Year with [EN]GAGE.
You can also build your confidence with free
self-defence classes at our Sighthill campus gym, [EN]GAGE.
Beginning Wednesday 18 January, classes will run every
Wednesday between 1pm and 2pm for six weeks. Sign up to one class, or all
six!
Book your slot by calling [EN]GAGE on 0131 455 4437.
BRIT Challenge 2023
Join the staff and
student community as we take on the BRIT Challenge between 23 January and 23 March 2023.
The primary focus
of the BRIT Challenge is to collaborate with mental health charities and
partner organisations to engage and support the HE and FE Sector so
that they can help others, create wider engagement and deliver a greater
understanding of mental health issues, adversity, psychological trauma and
wellbeing.
We are encouraging
students and staff of all abilities to take on the BRIT Challenge to improve
their own mental health and wellbeing, help destigmatise mental health, and
champion equality, diversity and inclusion.
Throughout the
challenge we will be aiming to achieve 23,000 miles of physical activity. Staff
and students can also seek sponsorship for their activity, contributing to the
University’s goal of raising £2,023 for BRIT and the ENSA Community Pantry.
Staff and students will work together as one team, including sub-teams and
individual challenges, demonstrating that fitness and wellbeing activities can
reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness all for good causes.
On Tuesday 24
January at 2.30pm at our Craiglockhart Campus, our Principal and ENSA President
will launch the BRIT Challenge by taking part in a 23-minute walk around
Craiglockhart. All colleagues and students are encouraged to come along and
join this ‘wellbeing walk’. Meet by the iPoint at Craiglockhart Campus as we
gather to start the walk which will take roughly 23 minutes and we plan to walk
from the campus up Craiglockhart Hill and back.
In addition to the
wellbeing walk, there’s a range of ways you can challenge yourself. Set your
own goals when walking, cycling, running, playing sports etc. You can log
your activity here. We know colleagues enjoy our
annual staff Walking Challenge, so we’re incorporating it in the Challenge. You
can get a group of up to six colleagues together and
record your miles walked or pull a team together to collect miles doing
other activity, the choice is yours!
You can find out
more about the BRIT Challenge in this brief.
Keep your eyes
peeled for more information and new challenges over the next eight weeks which
will include completing acts of self-care and kindness for those who are not
keen on/unable to do physical activity.
23 acts of kindness and self-care
As well as encouraging physical activity, we also want to encourage you to consider participating in 23 acts of kindness and self-care over the course of the BRIT Challenge. We will add new ideas each week, so keep checking back for fresh inspiration!
Time to
Talk Wellbeing Briefing Sessions
Time to Talk is promoted by Mind and Rethink Mental
Illness and they work with other organisations across the UK (See Me Scotland).
The day is about creating supportive communities by having
conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health. We all
have mental health. By talking about it, we can support ourselves and others.
Time to Talk Day is on Thursday 2 February 2023 and to
keep the conversation going, we will be hosting Wellbeing Briefing Sessions
across each campus.
The aim of the Wellbeing Briefing Sessions will be to
promote the support within the university for our staff and PhD Student
community around health and wellbeing.
Come along to hear from members of the university’s Senior
Leadership Team about why health and wellbeing prevention and intervention is
important to them and the University. We are also pleased to welcome
representatives from our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider, MCL
Medics, onto campus as they detail the EAP provision and the benefits for
colleagues and PhD Students. You will also hear from some of our Mental Health
Champions and there will be an opportunity to mix with colleagues over
refreshments.
This is an important opportunity for you to learn more about
the resources and support ENU has in place, so you know where to gain support
and advice if you are experiencing mental health concerns or wish to support
others.
Dates/Times/Locations:
Monday
6 February 2023
|
13.00-14.30hrs
|
Sighthill
Campus
LRC5
(Horizon Suite)
|
Tea/coffee/cakes
|
Tuesday
7 February 2023
|
10.00hrs-12noon
|
Craiglockhart
Campus
Rivers
Suite
|
Tea/coffee/cakes
|
Tuesday
7 February 2023
|
13.30-15.00hrs
|
Merchiston
Campus
Glassroom
|
Tea/coffee/cakes
|
Please come along to learn more about the commitment of the
university to support the health and wellbeing of colleagues and PhD Students.
You may not need to know about the resources and support available now, but
there may be a time when you do to support either yourself or a colleague.
When It
Is Darkest: Understanding suicide risk
You’re invited to a special guest lecture featuring Rory O’Connor, author and Professor of Health Psychology at
the University of Glasgow.
As part of the commitment within the university’s Mental
Health Strategy we have a Suicide Safer Implementation Working Group which
includes members of staff who represent the interests of both the staff and
student community. The remit is to discuss and action a framework to support
the implementation of a plan around suicide prevention and intervention and
they have done considerable work in this area to date.
The Suicide Safer Implementation Working Group are
pleased to host an interesting guest speaker around the theme of mental health
at our Craiglockhart Campus on Thursday 9 February 2023 at 6.30pm.
We are delighted to have Prof Rory O’Connor deliver a guest
talk entitled “When It Is Darkest: Understanding suicide risk”.
Professor O'Connor will draw from his book (“When It Is
Darkest: Why People Die by Suicide and What We Can Do To Prevent It”)
to allow us to get to the heart of this most tragic of human outcomes,
challenging myths and misunderstandings as we navigate the theme of suicide and
suicide prevention.
Please visit the Eventbrite link to learn more and secure
your free place. This is a public event and you’re encouraged to share
with students and your networks.