University staff wellbeing

Despite the strong connection between staff wellbeing and student performance, this issue often goes unnoticed in higher education. Just as the NHS found that staff health impacts patient care, it's clear that university staff play a critical role in fostering student success.

A grassroots effort is starting to close this gap. At the University of Salford, staff collaborated to launch a mental health initiative on World Mental Health Day, emphasising the importance of employee wellbeing. This sparked the creation of a network of 50 universities committed to improving staff mental health, with annual conferences helping to spread awareness across the sector.

However, obstacles remain. Early findings suggest that higher-ranked universities may offer fewer wellbeing resources for staff, pointing to a disconnect between prestige and support for employees. While local initiatives like Salford's are making headway, broader institutional change is essential. Both staff and student wellbeing need to be recognised as crucial for the success and sustainability of higher education.

Read Dr Ashley Weinberg's blog on the issue on the BPS website.