Training for Staff
The Mental Health Support Team
You can join us online for an introduction to the service to learn about who we are, what we offer and how students can access the service.
You do not need to sign up to these sessions. Please access the teams link via the Training Catalogue.
Online Training modules
The University operates within a 'Stepped Care Framework', a model which helps staff to match students' needs to the appropriate level of support. All staff should be familiar with this model. We ask you to complete the 'Stepped Care Model' module as a first step. It is also important to familiarise yourself with the support services within the Division of Campus Life, including Occupational Health, Advice and Response and The Disability and Advisory Service.
Supporting Students: This training is aimed at supporting students' wellbeing and focuses on that initial point of contact with a student in a range of scenarios. It is aimed at staff who encounter students day to day and who may need to take on a supportive role.
University student suicide awareness training (zerosuicidealliance.com). This is a 20 minute session which aims to help you better understand suicidal behaviours so you can feel confident to 'See the signs, Say the Words and Signpost to Support'. Please complete this ahead of attending the Suicide Prevention Workshop.
Training for PGR Supervisors
We offer two online modules focused on supporting Post-Graduate Research students.
Supporting PGR Mental Health and Wellbeing for PGR Supervisors provides an overview of mental health in the context of postgraduate research. The course offers supervisors guidance on how they can identify, respond to and support postgraduate researchers in distress.
Case Studies for PGR Supervision in the Context of Mental Health Difficulties explores the process of supervision of postgraduate researchers when supervisees are having difficulties.
Remote workshops
The Mental Health Support Service has introduced 2 remote workshops to support you in your roles.
If you have not attended any training sessions with the service previously, we encourage you to attend workshop 1 before attending workshop 2.
If you have previously attended ‘Student Mental Health Matters’ or 'Supporting Students in Distress and Looking After Ourselves' you may already be familiar with the content in both workshops, but you may wish to attend as a refresher.
The remote sessions are primarily aimed at staff who work in supportive or pastoral roles. However, staff in other roles may still find them helpful, and we welcome your attendance.
Making Sense of Students' Mental Health: 16/10/25, 6/11/25 and 19/11/25
Sign up via Training Catalogue
Supporting Students' Mental Health: 4/12/25, 10/12/25 and 18/12/25
Sign up via Training Catalogue
Face to Face sessions
The Suicide Prevention Workshop are for staff who work in a student support/pastoral and have regular direct contact with students.
Suicide Prevention Workshop: explores myths/facts, challenges, and supports you in confidently responding to someone at risk of suicide, as well as exploring escalation pathways via the Crisis Pathway
The Workshop runs from 10am-4pm on the following dates:
30th October, 27th November, 22nd January, 5th March, 25th June
Sign up via the Training Catalogue.
Content Warning: Please note that our face-to-sessions cover difficult subjects. Research suggests that it is important to have open and frank discussions about mental health and this will include the subject of serious mental distress and suicidal thoughts. Staff facilitating the sessions will approach this with sensitivity. However, we want you to be aware that these subjects will be covered before you book a session.