Helping Students in Distress: A Guide for Staff

This is an introduction to mindfulness for students who are wishing to explore what mindfulness is and how it may be helpful in their life. After this session, you can decide whether you wish to book on to the eight-week mindfulness programme within the university. Book a Mindfulness Orientation Session through the DAT system.

This is an eight-week programme with a one-day silent retreat, open to all Strathclyde Students. MBSR is particularly effective with students experiencing stress and anxiety. There will be one programme run in each semester. Book the Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through the DAT booking system. 

Many people experience emotional and psychological difficulties at some point in their lives. Usually, these difficulties can be resolved by talking them through with family and friends. Sometimes professional help is needed. The health and welfare of all members of the University is everyone’s concern. It is important to be prepared for emergencies, but also to be aware they occur rarely and that expert help is always available. Helping Students in Distress: A Guide for Staff 2023 (pdf) has been produced to:

• help you to recognise when a student may be in difficulty
• provide advice to help you respond/refer appropriately and effectively
• remind you of the sources of support within the University
• raise awareness of issues relating to student mental health

The Mental Health Awareness PowerPoint has been designed as a resource to compliment the Helping Students in Distress: A Guide for Staff 2023 (pdf) document. Both the PowerPoint and PDF Guide have been produced to:

• raise awareness of issues relating to student mental health
• help you to recognise when a student may be in difficulty
• provide advice to help you respond/refer appropriately and effectively
• remind you of the sources of support within the University

This e-learning package provides guidance to support those helping others in distress during and after the COVID 19 Pandemic. After reading this, you should:

• understand what Psychological First Aid (PFA) is and is not
• understand the ways that Pandemic like COVID 19 can affect us
• understand the seven key components of effective PFA
• feel able to deliver PFA support to others
• adapt PFA to the needs of particularly vulnerable groups of people
• identify ways to take care of yourself while providing PFA

Begin the Psychological First Aid E-Learning on NHS site.

Offered by Zero Suicide Alliance, the training course focuses on suicide awareness and covers the following:

• spotting the signs of suicide
• having a conversation about suicide using scenarios
• provides personal stories to further reinforce the importance of being suicide aware

Complete the Suicide Awareness training, it takes approximately 20 minutes.

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust has a range of e-learning modules and other resources designed for university staff such as those working in careers, accommodation, finance etc. They aim to help them spot the first signs of mental distress and provide practical tips on what to do. 

Short online training modules on a range of topics developed and delivered by autistic people. 

The Student Minds Information Hub contains downloadable resources, publications and research into a range of wellbeing topics. 

This two-day Scottish Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) standard course offers basic general information and teaches techniques to provide help to someone (staff or students) experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is obtained. The course is presented by a qualified SMHFA instructor and quality is continually monitored by NHS Scotland. Attendance at both days' training is required.

Book onto the Scottish Mental Health First Aid course through the DAT booking system. 

ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Over the course of their two-day workshop, ASIST participants learn to:

• understand the ways that personal and societal attitudes affect views on suicide and interventions
• provide guidance and suicide first aid to a person at risk in ways that meet their individual safety needs
• identify the key elements of an effective suicide safety plan and the actions required to implement it
• appreciate the value of improving and integrating suicide prevention resources in the community at large
• recognise other important aspects of suicide prevention including life-promotion and self-care

You can find further information and book onto the ASIST course through the DAT booking system.

SafeTALK: suicide alertness for everyone is a 3-hour training in suicide awareness. It helps participants recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. The training is open to all staff and students and no formal preparation to attend the training is required. Suicide is everyone's business, this awareness training may save a life.

You can find further information and book onto the SafeTALK suicide alertness course through the DAT booking system.