Embedding Mental Wellbeing in Lockdown: An Increased Priority during a Pandemic

The UK’s first national lockdown due to COVID-19 in March 2020 saw De Montfort University in Leicester re-scoping their proposed university-wide approach to embedding mental wellbeing in the curriculum. An increased focus on ensuring the mental wellbeing of students and staff recognised by the national media supported the university’s activity around five core strands of activity: (1) expanding the existing student-facing online wellbeing support, (2) developing new tutor resources for use in blended-learning, (3) enhancing the staff training offer, (4) expanding the academic training offer, and (5) sharing best practice. These core strands would enable the university to support its staff to embed mental wellbeing approaches for the benefit of the university community during and beyond the pandemic.