Just Say Hello
More people need to know about the impacts of mental health conditions and the importance of support. Thursday 3 March ‘22, is University Mental Health Day and the Buddy Bench initiative led by Dr Melanie Thorley and her STAART Ambassadors, that first launched at our Medway campus in January, has now become a feature across all university locations. These bright blue benches are now installed, one at each of our campuses and provide, a safe space for any of our staff and students having a hard time, to rest and identify as in need of contact and support.
Join our drop-in Q&A - 3 March
To celebrate the establishment of these safe spaces across all sites, Dr Melanie Thorley and her STAART Ambassadors will join members of our Disability Staff Network and Mental Health Champions, to host drop-in Q&As at the Buddy Benches between 10am-2pm on 3 March.
Our Buddy Bench locations
On campus, at:
- Avery Hill, in front of the Students’ Union office, by the entrance to the Dome
- Greenwich, close to the Dreadnought building, near the Change Coffee shop entrance
- Medway, behind the Pembroke building, by the Starbucks café entrance.
If passing by, please do stop and say hello. To welcome visitors we are providing mindfulness activities and badges marking the event. It is our aim to raise awareness, draw attention to the purpose of our Buddy Benches and to provide an opportunity for everyone to find out about mental health support.
See our full programme of events for UMHD
To mark national University Mental Health Day on 3 March, we’re focusing on mental health and wellbeing with a programme of workshops, discussions and resources which are open to staff and students in the first week of March 2022.
You can find out more and see all events on our UMHD page.
