The City of Liverpool College has reaffirmed its commitment to staff and students by signing up to a brand new national mental health and wellbeing charter – created by the Association of Colleges in conjunction with mental health experts.
The 11-point document includes commitments to:
- Promoting equality of opportunity and challenging mental health stigma
- Providing appropriate mental health training for staff
- Providing targeted individual mental health support where appropriate
Colleges across England teach and train 2.2 million people each year – including 685,000 young people. Every year, 1 in 10 young people experience a mental health problem and 1 in 5 young people aged 16-24 experience a common mental illness such as anxiety or depression at any one time. Add to these facts, 75% of adults with a diagnosable mental health problem experience their first symptoms before the age of 24 means The City of Liverpool College plays a vital role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its students and staff.
Elaine Bowker, Principal at The City of Liverpool College, said:
“The City of Liverpool College serves thousands of students across the city region each year and from all walks of life. Our staff do a fantastic job in ensuring that our learners reach their potential and in supporting them to achieve.
“We recognise that education has the power to change lives, but simply providing the opportunities isn’t good enough – our students need to be supported to access them or we risk excluding our most vulnerable learners through no fault of their own.
“We are incredibly proud to have signed up to this charter, demonstrating our commitment to the wellbeing of our students and staff.”
Richard Caulfield, Mental Health lead at the Association of Colleges, said:
“Every single day colleges like The City of Liverpool College provide a world class education and transform the lives of millions of people. This includes providing support for both staff and student wellbeing at the right time, in the right place. This charter gives colleges the chance to publicly state their commitment to the mental health agenda.”
