• Mental health awareness week banner

  • Mental Health Awareness Week

    18 to 24 May 2020

    Oxford Brookes is proud to be part of the annual celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week, providing an opportunity to promote, celebrate and raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing. This year's theme is kindness.

    While we are having to spend time apart it’s even more important for us to help and support each other. The staff diversity networks have created a series of activities for staff and students to take part in through the week and provided links to some useful resources. Slides or videos from some of the events will be shared for those who are unable to attend.


    Brookes Buddies - Looking out for each other

    A new Brookes Buddies scheme will provide informal friendly contact for individual staff members who may be particularly isolated. Each faculty and directorate will have a local administrator and a team of volunteer buddies willing to connect and check in with colleagues. This may be for one-off or regular meet-ups as mutually agreed.

    For more information visit the Brookes Buddies site



  • Events

    • BAME Staff Network Lunch and Learn: The Future of Work

      Thursday 14 May, 12.00pm

      Damian Corneal and Nita Lad discuss how COVID-19 might affect our professional lives from a technology, career and wellness perspective

      For members of the BAME Staff Network
      Contact: ninaepelle@brookes.ac.uk

    • Chocolate meditation: intro to mindfulness

      Monday 18 May, 12.00pm

      An introcuction to meditating and using mindfulness to support your mental health

      For everyone
      Join via Google Meet
      Contact: chaplain@brookes.ac.uk

    • HIIT with Vanessa

      Monday 18 May, 12.00pm (code 361 632 155)

      Tuesday 19 May, 5.30pm (code 902 825 914)

      Thursday 21 May, 12.00pm (code 917 640 883)

      For everyone
      Join via Zoom using the codes above and the password: Brookes

    • Breathing meditation

      Tuesday 19 May, 12.00pm

      An introcuction to meditating and using mindfulness to support your mental health

      For everyone
      Join via Google Meet
      Contact: chaplain@brookes.ac.uk

    • Managing our mental health - staff experiences and Q&A

      Tuesday 19 May, 1.30-2.30pm

      Members of staff share their experiences with facing challenges and managing their mental health

      For staff
      Watch the live stream
      Contact: jstuart@brookes.ac.uk

      You can watch the video of this session if you were unable to attend.

    • Staff workshop: Accessing mental health care during the coronavirus outbreak

      Tuesday 19 May, 3.00pm

      For staff who are unsure how to access healthcare in the current environment

      For staff
      Join via Google Meet
      Contact: chaplain@brookes.ac.uk

      The slides from this session are now available for those who were unable to attend.

    • Pilates with Jagoda

      Tuesday 19 May, 12.00pm (code 677 768 010)

      Wednesday 20 May, 5.30pm (code 135 132 290)

      For everyone
      Join via Zoom using the codes above and the password: Brookes

    • LGBTQ+ Staff Forum virtual coffee break

      Wednesday 20 May, 10.30am

      A weekly online get together for members of the LGBTQ+ Staff Forum. The forum welcomes LGBTQ+ staff and allies.

      If you'd like to join the LGBTQ+ Staff Forum contact jstuart@brookes.ac.uk

    • Random Acts of Kindness crafternoon

      Wednesday 20 May, 1.00-3.00pm

      Gather some craft materials and get together to work on them with other crafters and share ideas on spreading crafty happiness.

      For everyone
      Sign up for ideas via Google form
      Join via Google Meet

    • Universities UK event - Mental health and Covid-19: #WeAreTogether

      Thursday 21 May, 11.00am-12.00pm

      This free webinar will explore how universities can come together to support the mental health of their students and staff amidst Covid-19.

      For everyone
      Register online

    • Disabilty working forum coffee break

      Thursday 21 May, 1.00pm

      A one off event for any staff and allies to join this group for an informal chat, and to discuss what this forum is working on for the coming year to support staff with disabilities. Each month we also hold a chat meeting for everyone who would like to join us.

      For everyone
      Contact: ting@brookes.ac.uk

    • Kindness Through Prayer

      Thursday 21 May, 1.00-2.00pm

      Join us for the special prayer series that 'Finding God @ Brookes' is hosting on Google Hangouts. Bible study on Psalm 88 with a time of prayer.

      For all staff and students
      Join via Google Meet
      Contact: chaplain@brookes.ac.uk

    • Pilates with Vanessa

      Thursday 21 May, 5.30pm (code 983 788 737)

      For everyone
      Join via Zoom using the codes above and the password: Brookes

    • Student workshop: Accessing mental health care during the coronavirus outbreak

      Thursday 21 May, 3.00pm

      For students who are unsure how to access healthcare in the current environment

      For students
      Join via Google Meet
      Contact: chaplain@brookes.ac.uk

    • Body scan: checking in with yourself

      Friday 22 May, 12.00pm

      An introcuction to meditating and using mindfulness to support your mental health

      For everyone
      Join via Google Meet
      Contact: chaplain@brookes.ac.uk

    • Be KIND to Yourself: How to Build the Habit of Happiness

      Friday 22 May, 12.00-1.00pm

      Brookes Enterprise Support brings you an expert panel exploring a holistic approach to happiness, including real life experiences from those who have overcome adversity and mental health challenges, as well as practical tools and strategies to help you build and live a consciously, sustainable, happier life.

      For everyone
      Register via Eventbrite
      Contact: enterprise-support@brookes.ac.uk

    • Oxford University 2020 Disability Lecture: #WhyDisabledPeopleDropOut

      Wednesday 27 May, 6.00-7.30pm

      Dr Kate West is a neurodivergent (autistic and dyslexic) Senior Lecturer in Visual Criminology at Oxford Brookes University. In this talk, Kate uses the social model of disability to think about the neurotypical university’s structural disablism, that is the systemic ways in which a university designed for neurotypicals disables neurodivergent students and academics.

      For everyone
      Register via Zoom