Oxford Brookes University 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.
Mental Health Awareness Week
9 to 15 May 2022
This year the theme for the week is loneliness. Across the country, people will be reflecting on loneliness and how it impacts our mental health. Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Mark Rowland Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said:
“We hope this year’s theme of loneliness will strike a chord with many of us who felt lonely and struggled throughout the Covid pandemic.
“Millions of us experience loneliness from time to time. We know that some people are at higher risk of experiencing loneliness and the evidence shows the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems.”
The Staff Diversity Networks and the Multifaith Chaplaincy have created a series of activities for staff and students to take part in through the week.

Introduction to Meditation
Monday 9 May, 11.30am - 12.00 noon in the Garden Room, Buckley Building, Headington Campus
Join the Multifaith Chaplaincy for an introduction to meditation - a time of silent breathing meditation to calm mind and body. No registration required, just turn up or contact chaplaincy@brookes.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Enhancing Self-Awareness Workshop
Monday 9 May, 1.00 - 2.00pm online
Whether it be understanding our mental health, developing our emotional intelligence or tapping into our innate wisdom; self-awareness, self-knowledge and introspection are crucial to how we experience our lives. It’s about understanding our needs, challenges, desires, our habits, and all the other things that make us who we are, that make us unique.
This session is with Char Bailey (she/her) from WE CREATE SPACE and has been orginsed by the staff diversity networks. All staff are welcome.
LGBTQ+ Staff Forum virtual coffee break
Wednesday 11 May, 11.00 - 11.30am online
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.
Allyship with Disabled People Workshop
Thursday 12 May, 12.00 noon - 1.30pm online
This interactive session will support colleagues who want to promote disability inclusion and be better allies. The workshop will provide a safe and informal space to increase awareness and confidence and encourage proactivity as allies for accessibility and disability inclusion.
WE CREATE SPACE Queer Leadership Summit 2022
Friday 13 May, 9.00am - 6.30pm online
Open to members of the LGBTQ+ Staff Forum. Bringing LGBTQ+ leaders together through a dynamic schedule of wellbeing workshops, self-empowerment sessions and inspiring speaker panels. Through shared experience, story-telling and personal discovery, the agenda has been design to inspire and empower; equipping participants with the necessary tools, knowledge and passion they need to collectively create change within their own communities and organisations.
If you'd like to join the LGBTQ+ Staff Forum or for more information, contact jstuart@brookes.ac.uk.
Crafternoon Crochet Workshop
Friday 13 May, 2.00 - 4.00pm in the Garden Room, Buckley Building, Headington Campus
Get together with students and staff and spend an afternoon crocheting over a chat. A wellbeing session being run by the Multifaith Chaplaincy. No registration required, just turn up or contact chaplaincy@brookes.ac.uk if you have any questions.
a ball of blue and white crochet yarn sitting at the ends of different coloured crochet hooks arranged in a fan shape. Blurred in the background is a crocheted item.
Beyond Mental Health Awareness Week: Tackle stress with a new mindset
Thursday 19 May, 9.30 - 10.30am online
Stress is a part of life that cannot be avoided. However, developing the right mindset about stress can help you better manage stress and improve your wellbeing. This short but interactive session challenges you to shift your stress mindset to enable you to take a more positive and empowered approach.
A webinar from the Oxford Centre for Academic Enhancement and Development.




Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
Thursday 14 May 2020
BAME Staff Network Lunch and Learn: The Future of Work
Damian Corneal and Nita Lad discuss how COVID-19 might affect our professional lives from a technology, career and wellness perspective.
Monday 18 May 2020
Chocolate meditation: intro to mindfulness
An introduction to meditating and using mindfulness to support your mental health.
18, 19 and 21 May 2020
HIIT with Vanessa
Tuesday 19 May 2020
Breathing meditation
An introduction to meditating and using mindfulness to support your mental health.
Tuesday 19 May 2020
Managing our mental health - staff experiences and Q&A
Members of staff share their experiences with facing challenges and managing their mental health.
You can watch the video of this session if you were unable to attend.
Tuesday 19 May 2020
Staff workshop: Accessing mental health care during the coronavirus outbreak
For staff who are unsure how to access healthcare in the current environment.
The slides from this session are now available for those who were unable to attend.
Tuesday 19 May and Wednesday 20 May 2020
Pilates with Jagoda
Wednesday 20 May 2020
LGBTQ+ Staff Forum virtual coffee break
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
Wednesday 20 May 2020
Random Acts of Kindness crafternoon
Gather some craft materials and get together to work on them with other crafters and share ideas on spreading crafty happiness.
Thursday 21 May 2020
Disabilty working forum coffee break
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.
Thursday 21 May 2020
Kindness Through Prayer
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.
Thursday 21 May 2020
Pilates with Vanessa
Thursday 21 May 2020
Student workshop: Accessing mental health care during the coronavirus outbreak
For students who are unsure how to access healthcare in the current environment.
Friday 22 May 2020
Body scan: checking in with yourself
An introcuction to meditating and using mindfulness to support your mental health
Friday 22 May 2020
Be KIND to Yourself: How to Build the Habit of Happiness
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.
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event where there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health.