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Mental Wellbeing in HE Conference 2024: Better than rocket science! “Futureproofing” student and staff wellbeing

Delivered in collaboration with the Mental Wellbeing in HE Expert Group, this conference will address issues of mental wellbeing across all aspects of higher education.

Overview

Where are we now, and where are we going?  

If you work in student mental health and are feeling the need for a little more clarity and direction in your working life, then this is the conference for you. The multiple agendas, priorities and challenges in our higher education landscape can feel overwhelming, so here is an opportunity to take stock, reflect together on what works, and hear about innovative research to prepare us for the future.  

This is a conference for practitioners by practitioners, where you will discover the latest thinking in both student and staff mental health and wellbeing. Within this conference there are two main ‘strands’ one aimed at academic staff, covering teaching and research (embedding mental health in the curriculum, wellbeing in programme design, assessment etc.), and one for student support/mental health professionals.  

It’s not rocket science… it’s better than rocket science! 

Find more about the Mental Wellbeing in HE Conference 2025

 Here
Sharing best practice in a way that is collaborative and inclusive, which recognises the challenges within the sector but approaches it through a positive solution focussed narrative.”

Matt Heaver 
Mental Health Adviser, University of Sheffield

The Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Expert Group (MWBHE)

Organised by the Mental Wellbeing in HE group (MWBHE) in collaboration with Advance HE, this conference will provide a constructive space for colleagues to come together to share real-world examples of how they are putting into practice the strategic goal of a whole university approach to student and staff wellbeing.

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Conference themes 

The conference will have the following sub-themes and contributors will be asked to identify which sub-theme their submission supports: 

  • Effective collaborative working in student support across services, departments and teams 
  • Curriculum-based wellbeing 
  • Innovative outreach and collaborative working 
  • Staff training and support 
  • Staff wellbeing 
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Who should attend?

This conference is organised by frontline professionals for frontline professionals, and will be of interest to Heads of Counselling, Student Welfare Officers, Student Support Officers, Lecturers, and anyone wishing to learn more about identifying and addressing poor mental wellbeing within their students.
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Programme
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Mental Wellbeing in HE Conference Programme

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Abstracts - Mental Wellbeing in HE Conference

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Poster Abstracts - Mental Wellbeing in HE Conference

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Speakers

Allie Scott

Co-chair of the MWBHE Expert Group and Mental Health and Counselling Manager
,
University of the Highlands and Islands
Allie Scott
Allie is the Mental Health & Counselling Manager at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Allie has worked in a number of roles within the voluntary sector including working in community education with young offenders, those with mental health problems and those unable to engage in formal education. Allie is a BACP accredited pluralistic counsellor, the chair elect of the Scottish Heads of University Counselling Services (SHUCS), executive committee member of the Heads of University Counselling Services (HUCS) and co-chair of the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Expert Group, for advanced HE and The College Counselling Network Scotland Group.
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Cathryn Rodway

Programme Manager
 ,
The University of Manchester
Cathryn Rodway
Cathryn has worked in mental health and suicide prevention research for over fifteen years. She is assisting the Project Director with the day-to-day management of a UK-wide research programme into suicide prevention in clinical services. Cathryn completed her PhD in 2023, a study examining suicide in children and young people. Cathryn is the principal investigator for the national review of higher education student suicides and also for a study examining the effects of patient suicide on clinicians.
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Dr Helen Winter

GP Principal
 ,
University of Sheffield
Dr Helen Winter
Dr Helen Winter qualified from The University of Sheffield Medical School in 1999 and completed her GP training in Chesterfield. After a year spent living and working as a Psychiatry trainee in Sydney, Australia, Helen returned to General Practice in the UK, working as a GP in Derbyshire for 5 years.
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Dr Dominique Thompson

GP, consultant and author
Dr Dominique Thompson
Dominique is a multi-award winning GP, young people's mental health expert, TEDx speaker, author and educator, with two decades of clinical experience. Dom now works as an independent mental health consultant and speaker, whilst holding roles including; President-elect of the Student Health Association, membership of the UK government’s Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce, and Clinical Advisor to NICE and Student Minds.
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Dr Harriet Dunbar-Morris PFHEA, NTF

Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor of Higher Education
 ,
University of Buckingham
Dr Harriet Dunbar-Morris PFHEA, NTF
Harriet is responsible for providing leadership for the academic and research strategies of the university. She is a leading expert in innovative and effective support for Learning, Teaching and Student Experience. To ‘make a significant difference to students’ experience of higher education’, she provides the environment for positive institutional change and works with academic and professional services staff and the student body in an evidence-based, inclusive and egalitarian way.
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Katy Willis

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Success)
 ,
Plymouth Marjon University
Katy Willis
Katy Willis is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Success at Plymouth Marjon University. Her role covers marketing, student recruitment and student services including student support, library and employability and she leads on the Access and Participation Plan. Her teams have been awarded several awards and commendations, including awards for the prospectus and website, as well as Marketing Team of the Year in the HEIST Awards, and several shortlistings in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards.
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Jane Harris

Co-Director of Student Welfare and Support Services and Head of Counselling
 ,
University of Oxford
Jane Harris
Jane is the Head of Counselling at the University of Oxford, prior to this she was the Head of Student Counselling and Wellbeing at the University of Leeds. Previously Jane held a wide variety of roles in the voluntary sector, particularly in areas relating to social and economic disadvantage, homelessness, substance misuse and mental health difficulties. Jane is a UKCP accredited psychodynamic counsellor, reflective practice group facilitator, Chair elect of HUCS (Heads of University Counselling Services), Co-chair of the Wellbeing in Higher Education Expert Group, hosted by Advance HE, and sits on the BACP Universities and Colleges Division Executive and the Governance Group for Student Space.
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