Over the past decade, universities have invested significantly in student mental health. New services, dedicated wellbeing teams, awareness campaigns and sector-wide frameworks have all helped to shift the conversation.
Times Higher Education reported in June 2025 that in the UK, 87% of universities provide evidence of mental health support for students, compared to 63% for staff. The wellbeing of the people who deliver student support, has had much less investment.
University staff carry much of the day-to-day emotional load in a university community. They are often the first person a struggling student will reach out to, before they are signposted towards a more formal support service. Many staff feel underprepared for the emotional demands the role now carries, often without clear guidance on boundaries or enough support for their own wellbeing.
Research by Riva et al. 2024 found that staff and student wellbeing should be understood as mutually dependent parts of the same ecosystem. When staff are stretched or heading towards burn out, their ability to support students is obviously affected. We can’t build a mentally health university community if we’re only looking after one half of it.
The good news is that the sector is beginning to catch up and there is growing recognition that a genuine whole-university approach to wellbeing has to include the people who teach, advise and support students every day. Riva et al. recommend moving away from reactive crisis support toward something more proactive, building mental health literacy and a culture of everyday wellbeing for both staff and students together.
At Mindapples, this is the approach we have always taken. Our sessions on handling pressure, managing moods, building resilience and working sustainably are as relevant to a lecturer managing a full teaching load as they are to a student navigating deadlines. Our Champions Training equips staff in pastoral roles with the confidence and practical tools to support others, while also taking care of their own wellbeing.
If you would like to find out how we support staff wellbeing alongside student wellbeing, get in touch at universities@mindapples.org