Wellbeing & Mental Health

Face to Face Opportunities 

Looking after your wellbeing in the workplace (team session): 1hour

• Develop positive wellbeing habits in the workplace,
• Understand how to prioritise wellbeing and work life balance,
• Learn how to reduce stigma associated with mental wellbeing in the workplace
• Increase your knowledge about the support and resources available to support your wellbeing.

These will be delivered throughout the year but you can request a bespoke session for your team. Email wellbeing@abdn.ac.uk 

Managing wellbeing in the workplace (for managers): 1hour 

• How to create a positive wellbeing culture in your team,
• Learn how to empower members of your team to prioritise wellbeing,
• Understand how to reduce stigma associated with mental wellbeing in the workplace
• Increase your knowledge about the support and resources available to support you and your teams wellbeing.

These will be delivered throughout the year but you can request a bespoke session for your team. Email wellbeing@abdn.ac.uk 

Wellbeing & Stress Risk Assessment - For managers*

Aims and Objectives - Stress Risk Assessment 

To provide an overview of Stress Risk Assessment and ensure that all University staff understand their role in identifying, mitigating and managing work related stress. 

• raise awareness of stress and its potential effects 
• highlight the legal requirements and university policies 
• introduce the stress risk assessment tool 
• provide practical strategies for reducing and managing stress in the workplace 

Aims - Wellbeing

• how to create a positive wellbeing culture in your team
• how to empower members of your team to prioritise wellbeing 
• how to reduce stigma associated with mental wellbeing in the workplace 
• know the support and resources available to support your teams 
• how to have a conversation about stress with your teams

Book Now: 18 Nov, 10 - 12pm - Online Teams Session

*Not everyone has a job title which includes the word Manager/Team Leader/Supervisor etc.. in their Professional Services or Academic role but do have tasks that involve dealing with staff in an individual,  group or team setting. The Management Modules welcome participation from anyone who feels that the subject matter and objectives are relevant to their role.

Online e-learning modules

• Building Resilience : 20 minutes
• Developing Emotional Intelligence : 15 minutes
• Working Effectively from Home : 30 minutes
• Menopause at Work : 30 minutes

Face to Face Opportunities

University Counselling Service Workshops

The Counselling Service offers psycho-educational workshops to members of staff throughout the year on 'Anxiety' and 'Self-esteem'. These are facilitated by experienced, qualified counsellors from the University Counselling Service. Please visit their webpage for details and booking forms. If you have any questions about these workshops, please email: counselling@abdn.ac.uk

Online e-learning modules

• Mental Health in the Workplace Overview : 1 hour
• Mental Health - Stress Less : 15 minutes
• Mental Health - Doing the Right Thing : 15 minutes
• Mental Health - Managing Stress (for managers) : 15 minutes

The Suicide Safe University Commitment aims to minimise the risk and wide-reaching impact of suicide within the University community through prevention and awareness, Intervention and Postvention. Take the first step today by developing your awareness around the topic of suicide and how we all have a part to play in prevention.

CW: These courses will discuss the topics of suicide, death, mental health. Please keep yourself safe and seek support should you need to.

Face to face opportunities

Wave After Wave: Providing a compassionate response after suicide bereavement (external delivery from NESP & SAMH)

The session explores the impact and ripple effects of suicide, the complexities of grief, and how to respond with compassion. Learn supportive language, recognise risks, and discover ways to care for your own wellbeing, while gaining practical tools and resources to navigate suicide bereavement.

• Thursday 18th Sept - Online BOOK NOW

Introduction to Suicide Prevention (External delivery from SAMH): 2 hours

This session is provided by tutors from SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) open to all staff of all levels. Please note this course is a brief introduction to suicide prevention, and not designed for crisis support. If you have any questions, please email wellbeing@abdn.ac.uk

• If you would like to note your interest in attending this course please complete this form.

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Online e-learning modules

Zero Suicide Alliance - free online courses

Suicide Awareness Course (ZSA) Online Course around the topic of suicide prevention. Through the training you’ll gain basic suicide awareness and insights to better understand suicidal behaviours. At the end of the course, you’ll get a training certificate to download. The training aims to equip you with the skills and confidence you need to have a potentially life-saving conversation. Duration: 30 - 40 mins

Autism & Suicide Awareness (ZSA) Online Course - Understand more about some of the challenges autistic people may face and how these can contribute to suicidal thoughts. Be coached through four bespoke scenarios to share how you can support someone. Know more about available support and resources. Receive a certificate on completion. Duration: 45 - 60 mins

At the heart of the Aberdeen 2040 vision is a University where everyone feels safe, respected, and included. Our one hour Dignity at Work and Study workshop explores how we can all help build a culture of fairness and support - no matter your role, background, or stage in your career. As well as discussing how to identifying, raise, address and resolve mistreatment we will discuss ways to support each other and embed a culture of dignity and respect.

These will be delivered throughout the year but you can request a bespoke session for your team. Email wellbeing@abdn.ac.uk 

We acknowledge that we have more to do to tackle GBV at the University and are proud to have awarded the EmilyTest Charter in 2024 showing our ongoing determination to conintually learn and evolve our work in tackling GBV. Our award of the Charter is dedicated to Emily Drouet. To find out more about GBV support and information visit the Gender-Based and Sexual Violence web area.

L.I.S.T.E.N Training

The L.I.S.T.E.N training programme was designed by the team at the EmilyTest and aims to equip all staff with the skills to respond safely and responsibly to students disclosing Gender Based Violence (GBV).

It has been designed as an easy-to-follow conversation guide that can be applied by any individual, regardless of their understanding and knowledge of GBV.

With a focus on student disclosures, this structure is simple: receive the disclosure, share that information, and ensure the student is safe.

Face to face opportunities

Understanding and dealing with conflict: Delivered by one of internal workplace mediators the session will cover: 

Online e-learning modules

• Facing Anger & Emotion : 15 minutes
• Building Trust : 25 minutes
• Handling Difficult Conversations (for managers) : 15 minutes
• Asserting Yourself : 1 hour
• Creating an Environment Based on Respect : 15 minutes

Access a variety of wellbeing resources and templates on our Wellbeing Resources and Training pages. Explore wellbeing skills and topics through the Wellbeing Skills Video Series, all 10-20 minutes long. Topics covered so far;

• Signs & Symptoms
• Active Listening and Supportive Conversations 
• Boundaries & Signposting 
• Wellness Action Plans Overview
• Stress, Anxiety & Depression Overview
• Privacy/Confidentiality when providing support
• Risk & Protective factors

- More due to be released throughout 2025.