Health & Wellbeing
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health First Aiders
DPAG has seven Mental Health First Aiders who are trained to offer a confidential, supportive and non-judgemental space to talk, they are:
You are also welcome to contact the Biochemistry Welfare Officers if you would prefer to speak to someone outside DPAG:
Anna Lastuvkova: anna.lastuvkova@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Marie Hockney: marie.hockney@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Chris Manning: chris.manning@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Jane Mellor: jane.mellor@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Mark Wormald: mark.wormald@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Rita Emberton: rita.emberton@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Kiren Bhomra: kiren.bhomra@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Melissa Webby: melissa.webby@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Ben Foster: Benjamin.foster@bioch.ox.ac.uk
Alternatively, you may wish to contact colleagues in the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM):
Iris Hofmann (MSD): iris.hofmann@idrm.ox.ac.uk
Stefano Maio (Paediatrics): stefano.maio@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk
Wellbeing Champions
DPAG also has two members of the University’s Staff Wellbeing Champions Network. The aim of the network is to promote and support a culture of wellbeing across the University by raising awareness around health and wellbeing activities, and signposting to resources and support services. The Wellbeing Champions will share details of new activities, courses, and resources as they become available.
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Louise Cotterell
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officer
louise.cotterell@dpag.ox.ac.uk
01865 272116
Wider University Support
The University has a wide range of excellent resources to help individuals manage their mental health, as well as resources for managers and teams to help support one another.
Key numbers
Counselling Service: +44 (0)1865 270300
Occupational Health Service: +44 (0)1865 282676
Nightline: +44 (0)1865 270270 (see also: http://oxfordnightline.org/)
Additionally, the University’s insurers offer a free, confidential 24-hour telephone counselling service for staff on +44 (0)117 934 2121.
Online resources
The University is committed to creating an environment where "everybody is supported to feel and perform at their best as part of the University community", and offers several resources to help staff wellbeing. A great place to start is the Wellbeing: Thriving at Oxford website, which outlines the University's strategy and programme to support staff wellbeing, as well as a number of key resources.
Health Assured: Employee assistance programme for University employees
University employees have access to an Employee Assistance Programme, delivered by Health Assured – the UK’s leading wellbeing provider.
Health Assured is a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with any personal and professional problems that may affect your home or work life, health, and general wellbeing.
It is a complete support network that offers expert advice and guidance 24/7, including:
- Counselling for emotional problems and a pathway to structured therapy sessions;
- Legal information for issues that cause anxiety or distress;
- Bereavement support, including access to experienced counsellors and legal advisors;
- Medical information: Qualified nurses are on hand to offer support on a range of medical or health-related issues offering practical information and advice (not 24/7);
- Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): a range of self-help modules, informative fact sheets and invaluable advice videos from leading qualified counsellors; and
- A wellbeing app and portal offering Live Chat and a virtual library of wellbeing articles and guides.
To find out more about the free and confidential services available to you and how to access them, please visit Health Assured | Staff Gateway (ox.ac.uk).
Health Assured is part of the University’s staff wellbeing programme Thriving at Oxford. Visit the Thriving at Oxford website to find out more about the other resources on offer to you here at Oxford.
Some more resources can be found on the Occupational Health Services Employee wellbeing pages. The University also offers a free, confidential telephone counselling service through an external provider.
Personnel Service’s Work-Related Stress portal contains some of the internal resources available to everyone at the University and confidential counselling is also available for work-attributable health issues impacting on your performance and wellbeing at work.
Managing staff with mental ill-health - Information for managers who are supporting staff with mental ill-health, including spotting early signs, disclosures and planning ahead
Mental health self-help resources - A collection of links to mental health self-help resources.
Reasonable adjustments for mental ill-health - Information on reasonable adjustments for staff with mental ill-health, providing examples of good practice and factors to consider.
Occupational Health Service (UOHS) Referral service - Where there are concerns that work could be impacting on an employee's health or that a health problem could be affecting an employee in the workplace, a referral to Occupational Health for advice and assistance in managing such concerns effectively, can be made. The purpose of a referral to an Occupational Health Practitioner (doctor or nurse) is to provide impartial advice to managers to help support the employee in the workplace. You can make a self-referral or managers can refer an employee.
There are a wide variety of external resources available online and those listed below are just a small sample.
A free e-learning package for University staff, developed by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT), is also available. Students in distress may seek the support of student wellbeing services but, often, they will approach other non-specialist staff informally. That first conversation can make all the difference and this e-learning package is designed to give non-specialist staff the skills, knowledge and confidence to offer a first line of support to students who may have mental health issues. Introduced by well-known TV presenter Alexander Armstrong, the package consists of six easy-to-follow 20-minute sessions: Key Principles, Signs to Look Out For, Key Skills, Transitions, Students at Risk or in Crisis and Case Study. Access the training and find out more.
For students, CWMT have a website Students Against Depression which offers advice, information, guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.
The Mental Health Foundation offers a variety of resources including downloadable leaflets, podcasts and videos, and an A to Z of mental health.
Mind also offers a variety of support and resources, including helplines and an online community which offers a safe space to talk. Oxfordshire Mind has a wide range of services for anyone over the age of 16 who is affected by mental ill-health, including peer support groups, free short courses and an information service to signpost you to someone who can help.
Samaritans offer a safe and confidential place to talk at any time of the day or night.
You can also refer to the following useful resources:
- My Whole Self MOT (PDF)
- Mental health, like physical health, is part of our life journey: The Mental Health Continuum - YouTube.
- To help understand how we experience stress and how to address it, try the Stress Container tool - Stress Container Resource Download (mhfaengland.org) or you can Launch Stress Container here (direct link to the tool)
- For tips on supporting your mental health, especially when working from home, download "Supporting your mental health while working from home"
- Create your Mind Plan to get tips to deal with stress and anxiety and boost your mood: "Every Mind Matters" mhfaengland.org)
Fitness & Activity
DPAG’s location provides easy access to University Parks, an ideal place for walking, relaxing or taking part in activities such as tennis or cricket.
Oxford University Sport provides a well-equipped gym, swimming pool and fitness classes with membership available at discount rates for staff and students. Membership is free for the Sir Roger Bannister Running Track.
Oxford University Club offers access to a small gym, exercise classes, and a bookable all-weather pitch suitable for cricket, football, rounders, volleyball and other similar sports. There is also a treatment room offering physiotherapy, sports massage and acupuncture treatments. Membership of the club is free to staff, with additional costs for use of the facilities.
University staff are also able to visit the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, Harcourt Arboretum, and Wytham Woods, free of charge.