University of Cambridge set to benefit from new Mind and Goldman Sachs Mental Health programme

The University of Cambridge is set to benefit from the new £1.5 million partnership launched today between Goldman Sachs and Mind, which will provide mental health support in universities.

In the first partnership of its kind, the Mentally Healthy Universities programme will be delivered by Mind and will reach over 6,000 students and staff across the University of Cambridge and nine other universities in its first two years.

The programme will provide support and specialist training to equip these communities with the knowledge, skills and confidence to support their own mental health and that of others. This includes resilience training for students and workplace wellbeing workshops for final year students who are about to graduate and transition into the workplace.

There is a growing recognition of the mental health challenges faced by the UK’s higher education sector. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency the number of students who disclosed a mental health condition almost doubled between 2012 and 2015 to nearly 45,000. However, national figures suggest that mental health difficulties within higher education are currently underreported as just 1 in 125 students (0.8%) and around 1 in 500 staff (0.2%) have disclosed a mental health condition to their university.

Goldman Sachs is a major recruiter of university graduates and its backing for this programme is part of broader efforts to improve mental health support in the workplace and wider communities. With a focus on students in their first and final years of study, the programme will address transitional moments in students’ lives that can bring added challenges and pressures.

The programme is funded by Goldman Sachs Gives, a donor-advised fund for Goldman Sachs’ current and retired senior employees to recommend grants to qualifying non-profit organizations.

Richard Gnodde, CEO of Goldman Sachs International, said: “The transition through higher education and into the workforce is often a challenging and pressurised time in young people’s lives. We believe employers have an important role to play in changing attitudes towards mental health through providing support, resources and open conversation around an often stigmatised subject. We look forward to supporting Mind and these universities in launching this critical programme.”

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “We are really excited to be working with Goldman Sachs to better support thousands of university students and staff across England and Wales. We know that both students and staff face many pressures unique to the university environment. This timely opportunity allows us to deliver a programme that responds to the needs of university communities, building on good practice within the sector, to ensure everyone with a mental health problem receives support and respect.”

Chad Allen, Project Officer for the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy at the University of Cambridge, said: “We are committed to making sure our students’ academic successes are supported by personal wellbeing, so we’re delighted to be part of this new initiative which will help support work already under way at the University, and ensure students flourish during their education both academically and personally.”

Emily Gray, Deputy CEO of Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire Mind said: Whilst university can be an incredibly exciting time for students, it can also come with a unique set of challenges – including moving away from friends, family and the familiarity of home. It’s so important that students are supported throughout their journey which is why we’re so pleased to be working with Goldman Sachs to improve mental health resources and provide training at the University of Cambridge. 

The 10 participating universities are:

  • University of Cambridge
  • University of Bath
  • University of Greenwich
  • University of Bristol
  • Teesside University
  • The London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Leeds Beckett University
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of Central Lancashire
  • Oxford Brookes

 

About Mind

  • Mind, the mental health charity provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. They won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. www.mind.org.uk
  • Please note that Mind is not an acronym and should be set in title case.
  • Mind has a confidential information and support line, Mind Infoline, available on 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am - 6pm, Monday – Friday)
  • Contact Mind’s Media Team for interviews or further information on 0208 522 1743. For out of hours support, call 07850 788 514 or email .
  • To access to a range of free images to accompany mental health news stories, visit: www.time-to-change.org.uk/getthepicture . These images have been developed by Time to Change, a campaign to change how we all think and act about mental health problems. Time to Change is led by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, and funded by the Department of Health, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund.

About Goldman Sachs

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world.

About Goldman Sachs Gives

Goldman Sachs Gives is a donor-advised fund, through which our current and retired senior employees work together to recommend grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations to help them achieve their goals.

 

 



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