The Medway Post-16 Mental Health Forum is providing an awareness raising event to coincide with the university mental health and wellbeing day.

This will take place on Wednesday 18 February, 5.15-6.45pm, at the Universities at Medway site, Chatham Maritime, Jellicoe 106   http://www.kent.ac.uk/maps/medway/medway-campus

The event will mark the official launch of a 15 minute film, Mental Health: A Work in Progress, which was filmed by, and features, university students who have experienced mental health difficulties themselves whilst at university.

The event will also include a number of presentations from students who have had similar experiences at university. There will be a question and answer session involving the students.

You will be able to pick up leaflets on all the services available to students, and talk to some of the staff who provide them.

This event will be relevant for current students and staff, as well as prospective post-16 students and staff in schools and colleges who would like to know more about how students with mental health difficulties can be supported during their time at university.

For further information about the event, please contact Melanie Thorley – M.Thorley@gre.ac.uk

For more information about the forum, please contact the chair Rathini Mills – rathini.mills@medway.gov.uk

February is LGBT History Month, which has been marked each February in the UK since 2005. To celebrate this, the University’s LGBT Staff Network has organised several events, including talks, films and music, which are open to all and details of which can be found on the LGBT blog:
http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/lgbtstaff/historymonth2015/

You are invited to a drinks reception and talk by actor and television personality, CJ de Mooi, reflecting on the importance of LGBT History Month:

Wednesday 18th February
Reception from 5pm
Introduction at 5:45pm
Talk at 6pm
Aphra Foyer & Grimmond Lecture Theatre 3, Canterbury campus

For further information and event registration: http://bit.ly/15Q23hP

The following workshops are taking place at Canterbury. If you are interested in attending please log on to register at www.kentunion.co.uk/employability/stand-out

Thursday 12th March – Managing Transition…preparing for life after university

Wednesday 18th March – Assertiveness Skills

Monday 30th March – Managing Stress

If you would like help in understanding and manging anxiety, why not try the free app ‘SAM’ developed by UWE Bristol – sam-app.org.uk 

The Wellbeing Team supports Alcohol Concern’s ‘Dry January’ campaign.

• The aim is to start a new conversation about alcohol.
• Your challenge is to go booze free for the rest of January.
• Your chance to lose weight, feel better, save money and make a difference.

For more information about Dry January follow the link www.dryjanuary.org.uk

Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving – Medway Campus, Thursday 13 November 2014

Any time between 11am-1.30pm, St. George’s Centre (at campus entrance)

Campus Chaplaincy would like to offer all on campus the opportunity to take some time to pause and remember their loved ones. You are welcome to come any time during this period to light a candle, enjoy the quiet space, offer prayers and give thanks.

At 12noon and 1.00pm there will be special prayers said and names will be read out and remembered.  If you wish to have someone remembered please send their name to sally-medwaychaplain@greenwich.ac.uk.

A Managing Stress and Anxiety Workshop will be taking place on Friday 21 November, 2-4pm on the Medway campus, Rochester Building, room R2-09.   The aim of the session is to help us understand stress and anxiety and how we can become more self-aware in the way we manage and work with symptoms effectively.

If you would like to book a place please email medwaywellbeing@kent.ac.uk or contact Sarah tel: 01634 202984.

World Mental Health Day takes place on Friday 10 October. We have a number of activities taking place on the Medway campus between 11-2pm.

The Beautiful Minds Urban Blue Bus will be visiting the Medway campus. A number of volunteers, mental health professionals and agencies will be aboard the bus offering advice and an opportunity to talk. The bus will be parked in the Coopers car park between 12-2pm.

Come along to the Pilkington Atrium between 11-2pm to meet with Wellbeing staff and find out more about the services available to students on campus.

We have the following sessions taking place for both students and staff to attend. Places are limited so please book quickly:

Meditation session, Bridge Wardens, room BW203, 12.30-1.15pm. Email MFAReception@kent.ac.uk

Mindfulness/Relaxation session, Rochester Building, R2-09, 1.30-2.15pm. Email medwaywellbeing@kent.ac.uk

Wellbeing Walk

A 30 minute stroll around campus, and introduction to walking mindfully

 Have you ever taken notice of your walking? Mindfulness offers some deceptively simple but effective ways to re-energise brain and body, that you can use anywhere and any time to help you focus your mind. The first 50 to join the walk can also grab a Wellbeing goody bag!

Meet at 1pm on Friday 16 May, in the Templeman Library Welcome Hall.

The first 50 people to join us can pick up a Wellbeing goody bag too!