Colleagues across the University continue to work to respond to the government’s plans to enable students to travel home safely before Christmas and to provide clarity for our students about how this will impact on them.

We are working to ensure those students who wish to travel during the ‘travel window’ of 3-9 December are able to do so. However, we are also very aware that this may not work for everyone, some will have travel arrangements already in place and others will have been planning to remain in their accommodation over the Christmas break. We need to make sure our students are able to decide what works and is the safest option for them and their families.

We have ‘expressed an interest’ in taking part in the national scheme for asymptomatic testing of our students and wait to hear back from the government. We are aware this scheme will be prioritised to those areas with a high incidence of coronavirus cases. We continue to work closely with our local public health team in terms of decisions we are making and on advice to staff and students at this time.

Against this backdrop of Covid-related activity, it is fantastic to hear about great work that continues to take place across the University in support of our core activity of education, research and engagement. I would like to congratulate three colleagues in the Department of Philosophy and School of Arts (Division of Arts and Humanities) who have been shortlisted across three categories in the 2020 Medical Humanities Awards.

Dr Jon Williamson, Professor of Reasoning, Inference and Scientific Method, has been shortlisted in the Best Research category for ‘Evaluating Evidence in Medicine’, an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project that aims to broaden the range of evidence considered by evidence-based medicine. Dr Michael Wilde, Lecturer in Philosophy, has been shortlisted in the Best Early Career Research category for ‘Improving evidence evaluation in medicine’. Michael’s research develops a theory of evidence to enhance the understanding of how causal claims are established in medicine. Dr Nicola Shaughnessy, Professor of Performance, has been shortlisted for the Leadership Award. Nicola has been at the forefront of new fields of research around creativity and neurodiversity, in particular, the projects ‘Imagining Autism’ and ‘Playing A/Part’. She has also demonstrated exceptional leadership of PhD students and early career researchers in the field.

The Medical Humanities Awards are a highly renowned collaboration between the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Wellcome Trust and it testifies to Kent’s strength in the Medical Humanities that ours is the only institution to be shortlisted across three categories in this year’s awards.

My very best wishes to you and your families,

Karen

Professor Karen Cox | Vice-Chancellor and President

Our official Employee Assistance Programme provider, Care first offers a numbers of services and provide useful advice and support, including weekly webinars.

This week’s (Monday 16 November – Friday 20 November) webinars are as follows:

Monday 16 November 2020 –  ‘How Care first can support you’
Time: 12.30-13.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link.

Tuesday 17 November 2020 – ‘Nurturing relationships during Lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 18 November 2020 –  ‘Information for MHFA’s, Mental Health Champions & Managers on supporting teams during Lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 19 November 2020 – ‘Men’s Health Awareness in line with ‘Movember’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 20 November 2020 – ‘Building resilience during lockdown’
Time: 12.00-12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Care first ZEST is a Wellbeing Resource which is part of the Employee Assistance Programme package provided by Sodexho/Care first.  It is open to all staff.  It is the same resource package that was available previously via the University of Kent Wellbeing Hub.

The resource allows you to self-assess your health in 12 areas by answering a series of simple questions.  You can then set goals to improve your scores in the areas where you might be weaker.  You can access exercise regimes and dietary advice through the programme using various tools, for example, a food diary.  You can even link up with friends using the same resource and form buddy groups.  You can use these for diet and exercise challenges.  And you can link up exercise and movement apps, like Fitbit and Strava, to the Zest system as well.

One of the great features of the Zest Wellbeing Resource is that it has lots of articles on all elements of health and wellbeing.  There is something there for everyone.

To access the resource please visit the Care first zest website.  You can use the Organisation Code –  SODEXO01 and then register using your own details and set up your own password.

Article from Brenda Brunsdon, Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team Manager:

How did you feel last Saturday night when the Prime Minister announced the Second National Lockdown?  I was surprised by just how annoyed and dispirited I felt.  My life is structured well to deal with the challenges the coronavirus crisis represents but I know that many people face far greater pressures and adverse factors.  I am sure that the month long lockdown ahead is hanging over many people and weighing them down.

How can you best approach the new lockdown?  Pretty much in the same way as the last: try and keep some structure to your day; ensure that you don’t let work invade your personal space and time; keep up communications with friends and family as best you can; keep getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine; keep being active and exercising; don’t turn to self-medication by increasing the food, nicotine or alcohol intake; be kind to yourself and others in terms of expectations; don’t fret over what you can’t control.  Try reframing any despondent thoughts you might have.  Instead of thinking ‘It’s a whole, long month’, try ‘It’s only for one month’.

The Government is encouraging us to work from home as much as possible.  Many of us have remained working that way since the first lockdown started.  Working from home gives us flexibility.  There are doctors and health experts who are specifically encouraging us to take a longer lunch break so we can get out for fresh air and exercise in the middle of the day.  With the shorter days that late autumn brings, it’s more difficult to go out after dark and feel safe.  That is why the longer lunch break is such a good idea throughout this second lockdown.  It might not be possible every day, due to either work commitments or the weather, but it’s still possible to make it a priority, whenever possible.  Sunshine gives us that all important vitamin D; exercise is good for physical and mental health; a break in the working day is researched to increase creativity and productivity; it will help against symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder.  These are all excellent reasons to work flexibly and get out and exercise in the middle of the day.  It doesn’t have to be highly strenuous; a good walk will do.  It’s surprising how quickly you build up your stamina.

There is research published by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) which found that most people (64% of those researched) are coping well with the coronavirus crisis, including the need to lockdown.  You can read the full detail in the link below; it is a very interesting report.   It does, however, highlight that people with a pre-existing mental health problem have been less likely to cope well the demands of the coronavirus crisis.

If you are struggling from a mental health perspective, remember all the support put in place for staff by the University.  This link will take you to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP); details to log on are USERNAME: uokent |PASSWORD: university; the Freephone number for the service is 0808 168 2143.  If your home issues are impacting on your ability to work then discuss with your manager or contact HR or OH.  Corporate Comms publish the EAP’s webinar schedules each week.  All of these, for current and previous weeks, can be found on the University’s Staff Health and Wellbeing website; this also has physical and mental health information including past blog posts.

Useful links

‘Resilience across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic’: assessment of the research, ‘Coronavirus: mental health in the pandemic,’, led by the MHF in collaboration with University of Cambridge, Swansea University, the University of Strathclyde and Queen’s University Belfast

‘How to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak’ on MHF website

‘Facing a winter during the coronavirus pandemic’ on MHF website

‘UK employers told to allow for ‘hugely beneficial’ long lunch break to cope with lockdown’; by Aurora Bosotti on express.co.uk

‘7 ways to support your mental health during lockdown’ on mentalmovement.co.uk

‘”This too shall pass”: Mental health tips for lockdown two’; on shropshirestar.com

‘Lockdown in the dark brings so many new fears and challenges’; by Megan Murray on stylist.co.uk

‘Pandemic, Lockdown & Mental Health and Wellbeing’ by Tina Abena Oforiwa on YouTube.  This is a longer clip than I use but it is very accessible, articulate and comprehensive.  So, for those who prefer watching a video to reading an article, it could be very helpful!

As you will no doubt be aware, the Department for Education has announced its plans to bring students safely home for Christmas. The guidance, released earlier today, makes it clear that students are required to follow current national restrictions until 2 December, with 3-9 December being designated as the ‘Student Travel Window’ with staggered departure dates.  The Government also requires all teaching to be online from 9 December at the latest.

We are now looking at this guidance in detail to assess how it impacts on our existing plans for this term and will issue further updates over the next few days.

We will also continue to update our online guidance for staff and students in response to the latest guidance from the Government.

We have also written to students to let them know of our current position, and to remind them that they need to continue to comply with the current lockdown restrictions and to continue to attend face-to-face and online learning sessions until they hear otherwise.

Please be assured that the health and wellbeing of our students and staff remain our key priority and will inform all our decision-making in response to this latest guidance.

Thank you for your continuing support at this challenging time,

Karen

Professor Karen Cox | Vice-Chancellor and President

Although sport and fitness facilities are currently closed during the national lockdown, the Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic remains open for essential services. We are currently offering face-to-face physiotherapy and some referral appointments, including exercise and occupational health referrals. Our staff follow the latest guidance on safety and are fully prepared to see you in a Covid-secure environment.

You’ll also be able to book an online consultation with Vicky Annis, the Clinic Manager, if you’re not able to make it to the Sports Centre. Each session lasts approximately 20 minutes, and you can choose from a variety of online methods including Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or a simple phone call.

“I just wanted to say a big thank you for taking the time to see me and advise me on what I might do to reduce the discomfort in my back. And also, thank you for these fantastic links! I’m so much better now and regularly stretch whilst working from home.”

Sameena

See our Frequently Asked Questions for information on booking, clinic hours and safety measures.