You Said, This Happened: Please provide additional wellbeing support

You Said: Please provide additional wellbeing support (SimOn)"

This Happened:  A faculty-based student support team, increased Student Wellbeing drop-in’s, free access to Big White Wall for all new students and the creation of a new Head of Student Wellbeing post.

In addition to student feedback, we have seen a significant, 79% increase in students registering with our Student Wellbeing service. In response to all of this, BU has taken several steps to enhance student wellbeing support.

Our Student Support & Engagement Team (SET) is now based within the faculties to support student concerns, either from self-referrals or referrals from faculty staff. The team understand the pressures of university life, and know all about a wide variety of support available and can help advise you on the best way forward. Find out who your faculty SET representative is and where to find them on our website.

We have also increased the number of drop-in sessions at our Student Wellbeing offices in Talbot House, which take place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday every week during term-time. Visit the Student Wellbeing webpages or call 01202 965020 for more information about drop-in’s and the service.

If you're not sure about contacting Student Wellbeing just yet, or perhaps you're looking for support while we're processing you registration or between appointments, there's a a safe, free online space which all BU students can sign up to, called the Big White Wall.

Big White Wall is an online mental health support service free for all BU students, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It's completely anonymous meaning you can express yourself freely and openly, safe in the knowledge that professionally trained Wall Guides are monitoring the community.

Kerry Rolls, Student Wellbeing Coordinator at BU, explains: "Providing access to the Big White Wall is part of our commitment to help any student struggling with a wide range of issues such as homesickness, lifestyle concerns and low mood or anxiety. As well as Big White Wall, BU students can access a number of other services to support their mental and physical wellbeing, including the chaplaincy, sports clubs and facilities, arts and music activities, as well as careers and placement advisers".

And for the first time at BU, a dedicated senior manager role, Head of Student Wellbeing, has been created within our Student Services department to coordinate all student wellbeing services and support at the University.