The Wellbeing Competency Framework

    A shared language for wellbeing across your whole institution.

About the framework

The Mindapples Wellbeing Competency Framework underpins our university programmes. Developed with our university partners, it gives everyone in your institution a shared language for wellbeing, with two levels that build from foundations to deeper skills.

Personal
Self-management and resilience, for all students and staff.

The Mindapples Wellbeing Competency Framework wheel. Level One competencies sit closest to the centre and Level Two competencies around the edge. The left half is the Personal strand, self-management and resilience. The right half is the Interpersonal strand, supporting the wellbeing of others.

Interpersonal
Supporting the wellbeing of others, for staff and students with a wellbeing responsibility.

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Two strands, two levels

Personal skills for everyone. Interpersonal skills for those who support others.

Personal
Self-management and resilience. Useful for everyone in the university, and we can all benefit from learning more.

Level oneUnderstand how the brain works and how mind and body connect. Create and carry out your own wellbeing plan, and know where to seek help and support at university.Level twoHandle pressure with confidence. Understand your moods, motivation and sleep, and build the resilience and habits to keep learning and working at your best.

Resilient students sustain higher motivation, performance and achievement, with lower average dropout rates.1 Resilient staff have greater job satisfaction, increased self-esteem and improved interpersonal relationships.2
Interpersonal
Supporting the wellbeing of others. For anyone with a paid or voluntary role supporting peers or colleagues, and useful for line managers and leaders.

Level oneStart conversations about mental health with confidence, share helpful information, set healthy boundaries, run wellbeing events and signpost people to support.Level twoUnderstand mental health conditions and their impact, and help people with stress, moods, emotions and motivation, while looking after your own wellbeing in a helping role.

Peer support gives people somewhere to talk about their struggles with others who show empathy and acceptance, and it is linked to higher self-esteem and confidence.3,4

See how it is delivered

References. 1. Bittmann, F. (2021) SN Social Sciences, 1(2). 2. McAllister, M. and McKinnon, J. (2009) Nurse Education Today, 29(4), 371-379. 3. Sells, D. et al. (2006) Psychiatric Services, 57(8), 1179-1184. 4. Davidson, L. et al. (2012) World Psychiatry, 11(2), 123-128.

Built on evidence, shaped by universities

In two separate controlled trials of our training programmes and one follow-up evaluation, the University of York found statistically significant increases in wellbeing, coping with stress and understanding of the mind, even months after our training had finished.

Our approach draws on peer-reviewed research in psychology and neuroscience.

Line graph of coping with stress before the programme, at the end of the programme and three months later. The Mindapples group keeps improving and ends above the control group, whose scores fall back after the end of the programme.
Line graph of knowledge of psychology before the programme, at the end of the programme and three months later. The Mindapples group rises sharply and stays well above where it started, while the control group ends below where it started.

Undergraduate nursing students at a London university who took our training in 2014, compared with a waiting-list comparison group, before, at the end of the programme and three months later. University of York evaluation.

90%of students found our webinars useful or very useful for their own wellbeing
86%of students would recommend the Mindapples app to others
80%of student attendees found Champions Training useful for supporting others and for their own wellbeing

Mindapples pilot with UK universities, 2021.

Read the research reports

For your whole institution

The framework applies across any role, department or discipline.

Students

All students, at any stage or level of study, build the skills to look after their own minds. Those who want to support their peers can train as Champions.

Staff

All staff, whether academic, professional services, support or senior leadership, build the same skills. Those with a wellbeing role can train as Champions to support colleagues and students.

For the institution
Shared languageA shared language for wellbeing that everyone in your institution can use.
Lasting capacityTrained Champions, and a train-the-trainer model, so the skills stay in your institution year after year.
The CharterSupports the wellbeing and resilience elements of the University Mental Health Charter.
Intended impactDesigned to support engagement, retention and the wellbeing of students and staff.

We deliver the same trusted content to major employers including Goldman Sachs, Tesco, Royal London, HS2, Bupa and Wellcome.

See how it is deliveredEmail us for the full framework

Or write to us at universities@mindapples.org

Evidence and impact The theory and evidence behind our work Learn More
Our university programmes Champions Training, webinars and resources for universities and colleges Learn More