Uni success is about more than study – you also need to feel happy and healthy
Did you know that students who develop mental ill-health are more likely to leave their course early? This can affect future career prospects, and lead to longer term mental and physical health issues. Almost half of all students who considered leaving their studies in 2019 cited health or stress reasons.
You’ve come to Deakin to turn your career dream into a reality, and we’ll do everything we can to help you succeed in your desired field. We’ve got a wonderful team of teachers and a range of first-class study support to help you every step of the way.
But students succeed best in their studies when they feel happy, supported and healthy. As a member of the Deakin family, our commitment to you extends beyond books, assignments, labs, exams or grades. We want to help you look after yourself – now and in the future – by nurturing and promoting your personal health and wellbeing.
This will enable you to not only reach your academic or career potential, but also help you to enjoy your university experience and become more resilient, confident and joyful along the way.
You’re more than a student to us
Underpinning this commitment is our Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023–25, which Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin says sets the standard for your experience as a Deakin student:
Positive mental health and wellbeing gives students the resilience and motivation to engage effectively in complex learning tasks, manage difficult stressors, respond to challenges and make the most of the opportunities their course provides.
We’re committed to improving student mental health through prevention, response and continuous improvement. The increased prevalence of mental health concerns, and the stresses associated with COVID-19, shine a spotlight on the importance of this strategy.
What this means for you
We know that many of you are finding uni very or extremely stressful, with the main issues being academic workload and expectations, and life balance.
So, we’re addressing three main areas of mental health – prevention, response and continuous improvement. As part of this focus we will:
- Use student needs, perspectives and lived experience to inform how we approach mental health and wellbeing.
- Create an environment that both enhances and promotes student mental health and wellbeing.
- Foster a mentally healthy university community that encourages participation; champions a diverse, inclusive environment; promotes connectedness; and supports academic, professional and personal achievement.
- Ensure you can access appropriate, timely and effective referrals to specialised services.
- Use accurate and recent evidence to improve and strengthen initiatives that support student mental health and wellbeing.
We’ve reviewed, enhanced and implemented several programs, policies and events that focus on student mental health and wellbeing. Some examples include:
- Wellbeing Ambassadors: these motivated and passionate students help to promote the importance of health and wellbeing to the University community.
- Mind Matters: our trimesterly mental wellbeing campaign is all about shining a spotlight on mental health and providing access to lots of helpful information, strategies and resources.
- THRIVE: Wellbeing and study success sessions: learn how to study smarter and equip yourself with a range of skills, including how to manage uni life, deal with anxiety and practise mindfulness. Register for a T3 session now.
- DeakinWELLBEING: our free app has interactive, fun and bite-sized activities, resources and information to help you take small steps every day to build positive habits, coping skills and resilience.
We’re here to help
We offer a range of student health and wellbeing services, from medical and counselling services to disability support. Please reach out for support if needed.
We welcome questions, suggestions or feedback about the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023–25 – just email [email protected].