Teaching Pack
Guidance for facilitators
This e-learning package of online training modules has been developed by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. It is designed to enhance the skills, knowledge and confidence of non-specialist university staff and to help them offer a first line of support to students who may have mental health issues.
It was created by a team of university professionals, all highly experienced in counselling and mental health. From their collective experience of working in higher education, the team acknowledge the huge contribution made by all staff who work and interact with students within university communities.
The following six downloads link each to their corresponding e-learning session. The download provides some guidance for facilitators using the e-learning session to support a taught session, with specific direction to particular slides that might be used to facilitate group discussion.
01 Key Principles
University is an exciting and rewarding time for many students, however, students also face personal, academic and emotional challenges. Sometimes students will seek the support of student well-being services but often they will approach other staff informally. This session looks at some of the key principles you will need to consider when supporting students in those informal situations, in order to support them effectively while remaining within the boundaries of your professional role.
02 Signs to look out for
This session will introduce you to signs of deteriorating mental health and how to proceed if you spot these symptoms in students you support.
A number of terms are used to describe types of services, such as Students’ Union and Wellbeing Services, for example. It is important to note that these terms will differ from university to university and that you will need to familiarise yourself with how services are known in your university.
03 KEY SKILLS
This session identifies the skills you need to support someone who is distressed.
A number of terms are used to describe types of services, such as Students’ Union and Wellbeing Services, for example. It is important to note that these terms will differ from university to university and that you will need to familiarise yourself with how services are known in your university.
04 TRANSITIONS
This session will introduce you to the ways in which some students are affected emotionally when they leave home to come to university. You will also find out about some of the difficulties that students face when they start university. You will be given suggestions about when it is important to direct students to other people who may be able to help.
A number of terms are used to describe types of services, such as Students’ Union and Wellbeing Services, for example. It is important to note that these terms will differ from university to university and that you will need to familiarise yourself with how services are known in your university.
05 AT RISK OR IN CRISIS
This session focuses on how best to respond to students who are experiencing crises, and/or take risks with their, or others, wellbeing. To help students in these situations, without becoming stressed from your own involvement, requires that we are well supported within ourselves and by other colleagues.
A number of terms are used to describe types of services, such as Students’ Union and Wellbeing Services, for example. It is important to note that these terms will differ from university to university and that you will need to familiarise yourself with how services are known in your university.
06 CASE STUDY
The aim of this session is to recap and bring together skills from the other sessions to provide you with a key summary of how to help students, as well as showing good practice in action through a case study. You will be presented with options to think about what you would do if you came across a student in a similar predicament.
A number of terms are used to describe types of services, such as Students’ Union and Wellbeing Services, for example. It is important to note that these terms will differ from university to university and that you will need to familiarise yourself with how services are known in your university.