Mental Health and Wellbeing

Protecting and enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of our students and staff is of utmost importance to the University. It is recognised that, to perform, thrive and succeed, whether as a student or as a colleague, members of our community need to be mentally well and emotionally resilient.

The links between mental health, confidence, resilience, performance and impact are intrinsic and are acknowledged by the University. Building and protecting strong and positive mental health amongst our workforce and student population is recognised as a fundamental enabler for our success.

Our vision for success 

The contributors to mental health or mental ill health are varied and can include personal circumstances, life events, issues relating to work and study, living environment, and the presence of diagnosable mental health conditions. All these factors can vary and the combination of each will affect mental health on a day-to-day basis. The University cannot control all these aspects and contributors, but it can take steps to create and sustain a work and study environment and culture that values good mental health, and to be a supportive employer and educator.                    

In delivering the joint University of Stirling and Stirling Students’ Union Mental Health Strategy we will foster and nurture a culture and environment that respects, protects, promotes and enhances the mental health and wellbeing of our students and staff, enabling them to thrive and achieve their potential whilst achieving our institutional ambitions.  

This relies on the creation of an institutional culture which recognises the link between mental health, wellbeing, performance and impact, and which enables our community to talk openly about mental health without stigma or fear

What we want to achieve:

Objective 1: We will make the protection and enhancement of mental health a strategic priority for the institution, through demonstrating leadership, targeting resources, and routinely considering the impact of institutional policies and decisions on the mental health and wellbeing of our students and staff.

Objective 2: We will embed the protection and enhancement of mental health into institutional policies, working practices, academic programmes and curricula, facilities, the campus and digital environment, and post-Covid reset plans, ensuring that systemic barriers to good mental health are identified and eradicated.

Objective 3: We will develop and implement activities, interventions and partnerships which promote and sustain the enhancement of student and staff mental health, particularly focusing on key transition points in the student and staff journey and aiming to build resilience and ownership of our own mental health.

Objective 4: We will establish a support framework which ensures that students and staff can access mental health support at the appropriate time without experiencing stigma or discrimination, including access to highly skilled, appropriately resourced and well-trained specialist support staff.

Objective 5: We will ensure staff and students who support students and colleagues experiencing stress or mental ill health can spot the “red flags”, know where to signpost for support, and are sufficiently equipped, trained and supported themselves.

Objective 6: We will improve our knowledge and understanding about the mental health and wellbeing of our community and of the impact of this strategy.

Further information and support

As an employer and a provider of education to thousands of people from all backgrounds and walks of life, we strongly value the diversity of our staff and students. We aim to create an environment and culture where staff and students are equally valued and respected, where diversity is celebrated, and where our staff and students are able to achieve their full potential, to contribute fully, and to derive maximum benefit and enjoyment from their involvement in the life of the University.

Staff and students are expected to abide by the Respect at Work and Study Policy. In addition, our Student Charter and the Code of Student Discipline set out our expectations of our student population to treat one another with dignity and respect. We will not tolerate abuse or harassment of our LGBTQ+ community. Any student who is subjected to harassment or abuse can report this and receive support from Student Support Services, and staff can report this to their HR Partner.

We want you to feel like you can 'just ask' whenever you’re facing questions or challenges at university. This is especially true where your mental health and wellbeing are concerned, so if the pressures of studying lead you to feel anxious or in need of a helping hand at any point, we’d encourage you to simply reach out for the support we can offer. See the mental health and wellbeing support for students.

We recognise the vital role our employees play in the success of the University. We take a proactive and supportive approach to keeping you well. See the support available to staff.

Read the first joint University of Stirling and Stirling Students’ Union Mental Health Strategy.

Just Ask - Student Support Services team

A range of services available to provide additional support. Students can contact our Student Support Services team, and access the 24/7 Student Support helpline. Colleagues are able to use the University’s Employee Assistance Programme, which is also available 24/7.

Central Scotland Regional Equality Council (CSREC)

CSREC exists and works to promote equality; fight hate crime and discrimination; foster good relations and build partnerships in the Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council areas. This includes a free and confidential Support and Advice Service.

CSREC also provides training for organisations on racism, hate crime and race equality. They are also a Third Party Reporting Centre, where you can anonymously report hate crimes to the Police.

Shakti Women’s Aid

Shakti Women's Aid helps BME women, children, and young people experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse from a partner, ex-partner, and/ or other members of the household. They work closely with the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, NHS Scotland, and other statutory and voluntary services. They also provide training and consultancy for agencies working with BME women, children, and young people. Based in Edinburgh but they have outreach staff in Stirling.

If you can't find the information you are looking for on this website, there are lots of other places you can get more information or help. The University has a range of staff who are involved in our work to promote equality for all our staff and students, and it should be easy to find the person that can help from the information below.

For general information about our work to promote equality and diversity, please contact us by emailing equality@stir.ac.uk.