Bath Spa University and its Students’ Union have confirmed their commitment to raising awareness of mental health by signing the Time to Change pledge.
The aim of the pledge is to end the discrimination and stigma often associated with mental health.
One in four people will experience a mental health problem, so it is important not to ignore these issues, but talk about them.
Bath Spa University has a student body of around 8,000 and provides a dedicated student support service available to all students should they need advice, guidance or help at any point during their studies.
Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University said: “I am proud to sign the Time to Change pledge on behalf of Bath Spa University and by so doing demonstrate our commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of our students and staff.
“We are dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and encouraging our students and staff to talk about this to help end stigma and discrimination.”
The Students’ Union at Bath Spa runs a successful mental health awareness campaign and works closely with the University’s student support team to encourage students to be more open about mental health.
Emma Weskin, Vice-President Welfare at Bath Spa University Students’ Union said: “The stigma surrounding mental health can sometimes be even worse than the symptoms themselves. It is something very personal to me and I am so proud of everyone who has jumped on board to be a part of the programme as well as the positive response it has received across the University!”
Time to Change is England’s biggest anti-stigma programme led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. Set up to create a positive shift in public attitudes towards mental health problems, Time to Change promotes better understanding to combat discrimination towards people who experience mental health problems.
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said: “It is fantastic that more and more organisations are showing their support in tackling the stigma experienced by people with mental health problems.
“Employers and their staff can all play a part in helping to stamp out stigma and organisations like Bath Spa University are taking a lead.
“Many leading companies have found that making a strategic commitment to the mental wellbeing of their workforce not only has benefits for their staff, but also benefits their bottom-line, improving productivity and staff retention.
“With one in four people experiencing mental illness it’s time for businesses to work on their approach and start creating more mentally healthy workplaces.”
More information about Time to Change is available at www.time-to-change.org.uk.