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Mental health and well-being Advice on effective mental health support for students and staff. Find out how universities and academics can protect their campus community from spiralling stress, minimise the risk of burnout and build resilience - from institutional practices that create a culture of care to personal self-care tips for overworked academics.
Copyright © 2025 THE - Times Higher Education. All rights reserved. Three steps to accepting failure : recognise , embrace and enculturate
Many fail to see the blood , sweat and tears that often go into both successes and failures . We must learn how to celebrate the process as well as the outcome
Adaptability is different from resilience – and here ’ s how to nurture it
Identifying what adaptability is and how to boost it can help students make appropriate adjustments to optimise their academic and personal well - being
Three easy ways to stay healthy in the new year ( even with a busy job )
The time squeeze of modern university roles can make it feel impossible to carve out schedule space for health and wellness . Sandy Jones provides tips on how to do so
Techniques for managing and learning from failure in academia
Failure in academia does not have to be entirely negative – it can provide an opportunity to grow , build resilience and is an essential part of the self - improvement process
With an ‘ epidemic ’ of poor mental health , what can universities do to help ?
Practical guidance for universities on how they can support the growing number of staff experiencing challenges relating to mental health and well - being
Eliminating harmful digital technologies in universities : a guide
Modern institutions are rife with tech that disenfranchises , dehumanises , excludes and even bullies students and teachers . It ’ s high time for a rethink , says Andy Farnell
How to change research cultures to support the well - being of PhD students
From providing mental health champions to simply having honest conversations about expectations and pressure , there ’ s much that can be done to help students
Comfort without coddling : how to make students comfortable in the classroom
How do educators foster a safe environment for students while encouraging their independence ? Brooke Wilson discusses why this is important
A holistic approach to student support
Student support , particularly for care - leavers or estranged students , is vital throughout their university journey – from pre - application to beyond graduation . Here , Fran …
Should we be aiming for student happiness or student satisfaction ?
Happiness and satisfaction are two sides of the same coin , but crucial differences exist between them – and one serves our students far better , says Doug Specht
Peer mentoring to support staff well - being : lessons from a pilot
A peer mentoring scheme designed to support staff well - being is being piloted at Staffordshire University . Fiona Cust and Jessica Runacres share lessons on how the …
The power of gender - sensitive mentoring
Mentoring is a powerful tool to enhance job satisfaction and work - life balance . This guide aims to help mentors adopt a gender - sensitive approach to support women and people …
When am I going to be found out ? Tackling academic impostor syndrome
Do you find yourself thinking ‘ everyone knows more than I do ’ or ‘ I shouldn ’ t have got this promotion ’ ? If so , Jo Clift has tips for challenging your impostor syndrome
The importance of being a people - first leader – and tips on how to do it
There are many small ways you can show appreciation for your employees and make them feel valued on a daily basis , says Sabrina Casas
Knowledge and approaches needed for trauma - informed teaching
What steps can be taken to minimise trauma in the classroom ? Marc Mason explains how it works and presents itself
How to be an empathetic leader during times of change
No one style is the panacea for all leadership challenges but , as Rachel Gibson explains , empathy is a crucial ingredient for leadership success
Managing excluding behaviour and bigotry in the classroom
A reflective tool to help university teachers manage inappropriate or offensive behaviour in the classroom , presented by Donna Hurford and Valeria Borsotti
Five ways to motivate and inspire a high - performing team
Senior leaders should hold themselves and their teams accountable for performance - driven metrics , foster psychologically safe workplaces and reward …
Universities must acknowledge the value of students in recovery
University throws up many temptations , but if we offer the right support for addiction we are often rewarded with strong , tenacious students and staff
A guide to promoting equity in HE for refugees and asylum seekers
Steps that universities can take to help refugees and asylum seekers access and successfully progress through higher education
Recognise work - life imbalance and restore resilience
How can academics stay energised and resilient ? The first step , says Aaron Davis , is take stock of those tasks and worries that deplete energy , then add activities that refill …
A calendar activity that can help in the battle against burnout
Working out how you want to spend your time versus how you actually spend it can be a useful tool for ensuring investment in your physical and mental health , says …
Salary negotiation – a guide for faculty members
In the age of inflation , increased competition and an emphasis on adjunct faculty roles , knowing how to effectively negotiate your salary is key
Universities need policies and practices to tackle work - life balance
Broadly speaking , some countries do family - friendly policies and practices better than others – but there are great benefits to be had for everyone , says Siu Oi Ling
Mix technology and personal contact to support students
A sophisticated algorithm and a simple phone call have proved to be a formula for student retention . And it ’ s not stopping as the pandemic recedes , says Jonathan Powles
Using the ‘ pick three ’ method to avoid burnout in higher education
One can accomplish only so many tasks in a given day , so try selecting three from five designated priorities and ensuring they are nurtured , says Sandy Jones
What universities can do to support their autistic employees
Institutions can take simple steps to ensure autistic staff are properly supported to succeed , as Jennifer Rudd explains
Collective voices , zero tolerance
Universities can use their ability to engage with students to effect cultural change , as the Bystander Intervention initiative to combat sexual abuse has shown . Louise …
In the search for work - life balance , going part - time could provide an answer
James Derounian makes the case for part - time work , particularly as academics advance in their careers – and gives tips on how to begin the transition and make a …
What must leaders consider as they develop permanent remote work policies ?
Most agree that remote working is here to stay , so developing thoughtful and effective policy will be critical to ensure that students are served and institutions thrive
What I learned from nearly getting cancelled
Being the subject of student complaints was a very difficult experience for all involved – one that I am trying to learn from
Universities must do better at bridging the gap between diversity and belonging
Lillian Nave outlines the three key interventions required for universities to help diverse students learn about , accept and participate in each other ’ s worlds
Building emotional resilience is not creating a generation of ‘ snowflakes ’
Many students arrive at university adept at navigating challenging situations . Julia Downes explains how to leverage and add to these skills for positive and …
Breaking barriers for women : closing the gender health gap in academia
In the final part of their ‘ breaking barriers for women ’ series , eight female academics propose ways to tackle the stigma and career deficits caused by women ’ s …
Coping with long Covid : 10 strategies for academics
Long Covid would hit anyone hard , no matter their job – but academia ’ s culture of high stress , high workloads and high expectations makes the impact greater still . Here , …
Failure can feel hot and shameful , but we must normalise it
Failure is essential in research , so we need to reframe it into an opportunity for learning , says Emma Williams
Five tips for showing compassion towards and supporting new students
The step up from secondary to tertiary education can be daunting . Katherine Mansfield explains how to arm your students with the knowledge they need to succeed
The boundaries to set so your students don ’ t take over your life
As the role of university teacher evolves , a key workplace challenge is how to offer proximity without becoming a 24 / 7 bot service
Linguistic racism can take a high toll on international students
Even seemingly innocuous comments on the way that students use dominant local languages can have severe effects on mental health , says Sender Dovchin
Why my hobbies make me a better scholar
Non - academic skills , both motor and cognitive , can enrich research capabilities in unexpected and often unexamined ways , writes Stephen W . Harmon
Virtually friends : building bonds in a remote work environment
When Sandy Jones came into her first remote position in 2020 , she made it her mission to develop closeness among members of her team – here ’ s what she did
How to help students with widely varied prior education to thrive in first year
How can university educators ensure their first - year teaching caters to widely varying prior knowledge and skills among students ? Bethan Gulliver explains a three …
We must remove technology worries from the student cost - of - living crisis
Students and parents cannot be left to make up the shortfall when it comes to financing their studies and tech needs – they need help from universities and government
Why getting a PhD is like building a Lego duck
Ben Marder provides a fun exercise that can impart important wisdom to help lessen PhD students ’ anxiety over their progress
Walk the walk to benefit your academic research
Walking can be used to benefit academic research , help with problem - solving and promote creative thinking . Here , Anna Lois McKay explains the different ways it works
How to help students thrive during pandemic times and beyond
Being overtly trauma - conscious and openly discussing current events provide a solid foundation for creating a compassionate classroom , says Ivania …
Safeguarding conferences are becoming the land that change forgot
The lack of a firm steer from the universities regulator means a sector left in limbo when it comes to tackling sexual misconduct – and events covering the same …
Collaborate or compete ?
Working together turns out to drive positive factors such as communication , productivity , trust and creativity . Here ’ s how to foster collaboration among institutions , faculty …
Get yourself a teaching buddy to help you thrive
Rather than struggle through classroom - based problems alone , we should recruit meaningful support by seeking out a colleague to discuss our teaching , says Flower Darby
Why we should be humans first and academics second
James Derounian argues for the spirit of kindness in all we do – and provides tips to improve your everyday collegiality
