Student news

Wellbeing week promotes mental health

The University is working with students to promote a week-long initiative to help raise the profile of mental health and wellbeing.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Week 2017

A varied programme of events and activities, organised by Edinburgh University Students' Association, runs from 13-17 November.

One in four people experience mental health problems each year and many more are affected by the stigma surrounding mental illness, organisers say.

Wellbeing events

Among events taking place in Mental Health and Wellbeing Week are meditation sessions, alpaca petting and a group singalong in the Meadows.

A Mental Health and Wellbeing Fair at Potterrow will provide information on support services, offer advice on supporting others and promote ways of getting involved in campaigning.

Elsewhere, Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson will join a discussion about mental health and sport in Paterson’s Land.

The event will also feature the humanitarian organisation MercyCorps, which will discuss its work in Syria using football to engage young people.

Other activities

The Business School will host a seminar on the relationship between money, mental health and wellbeing.

At an event in Teviot, actor and comedian Francesca Martinez will discuss her new book and what is like to be a comedian with cerebral palsy.

The full events programme is available here: http://edin.ac/2kxrCiX

Studying and working at a leading university can be really challenging, and that’s why it’s so important that we speak about how we are feeling and about any worries that we might have. The programme of events is a fantastic opportunity to get us talking with each other about our mental health.

Andy ShanksDirector of Student Wellbeing

Related links

Let’s Talk campaign

Edinburgh University Students’ Association