University Mental Health Day 2025: Reflections on Thriving at Oxford
Frances Parkes, the University’s Wellbeing Programme Manager, reflects on the promotion and support of staff wellbeing and outlines some upcoming deliverables
- An update on the Thriving at Oxford Action Plan 2024–25
- Reminder about the available training for staff to support themselves, colleagues and students plus specific support for line managers
- This blog also includes information about resources for Mental Health First Aiders
- Next steps for Thriving at Oxford, including the introduction of a new employee assistance programme
This year on University Mental Health Day (13 March 2025), I am reflecting on the strides that the University has made in supporting employee mental health. For my part, I appreciate that all the actions of the Thriving at Oxford team have been delivered and are in support of staff wellbeing in line with the University Mental Health Charter.
One of the key actions has been to implement the priorities identified in the first Thriving at Oxford Action Plan 2024–25, which was launched by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey last June. Funded through the Pay & Conditions Review, the action plan 'sets out our ambition for creating a truly cohesive, inclusive and holistic wellbeing package for staff. It builds on the existing good practice demonstrated in multiple departments and the services and resources provided centrally.'
Mental health support for staff, and supporting line managers
One of the deliverables so far is the implementation of free foundational mental health awareness training for all staff and a range of other mental health awareness trainings for staff supporting colleagues, staff supporting students, and line managers. Dates for the Trinity term programme of events are now available to book here: Mental Health Awareness Training | Staff Gateway.
As the Vice-Chancellor has stated: 'Everyone has a part to play in staff wellbeing and the concept of empowering staff to support themselves and their colleagues will be central to the strategy going forward.'
We want everyone to know how poor mental health may affect themselves or their colleagues and where to find support.
Mental Health First Aiders
Some departments have asked for volunteers to take on the role of Mental Health First Aiders to signpost staff to those sources of support. Where these roles are present, we want to provide opportunities for skills development. We have developed a programme of masterclasses, the opportunity for reflective practice and the provision of guidance we hope will boost the skills and confidence of these individuals, encouraging them to protect their own boundaries and wellbeing.
Next steps for Thriving at Oxford
The Thriving at Oxford Action Plan 2024–25 created a mandate for a medium-term action plan to be published in the summer of 2025. One key change as part of this new action plan will be the launch of a new Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in May 2025. The new provision will deliver clinical excellence to support our staff. It will provide access to in-the-moment and structured counselling via a 24/7 service and also include financial and legal guidance for all staff. The current provision via Health Assured will end in July 2025. Please keep an eye out for future communications for details of this new service.
Finally, none of the actions outlined above, nor the actions to be completed in the coming months, would be possible without the collaboration of members of the Wellbeing Delivery Group, of divisions, departments, wellbeing champions and other central bodies such as the Safety Office, People and Organisational Development (POD) and Professional Services Together. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this programme and look forward to working with them in the future to continue promoting staff wellbeing at the University.
