The University has been awarded the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) Award. This is a national recognition, led by charity Student Minds for universities working to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their communities.
The award shows that Exeter is starting to take a more joined-up approach to mental health – where support isn’t just the job of one team or service, but something that’s taken seriously across all areas. It also reflects the work being done to listen, learn and keep improving, with students playing a key part in that.
This matters. Not just because it recognises the work that’s been done so far, but because it also gives us a clearer picture of where real development are needed.
We know how important mental health is to students. It shapes your academic experience, your wellbeing and your everyday life at Exeter. And for too long, support hasn’t always felt consistent, accessible or student-led. That’s why this award isn’t just about a badge, it’s about making sure your voices, experiences and priorities are shaping what comes next.
Your 2024-25 Guild President, Alex, worked closely with the University to make sure this process reflected the real Exeter student experience – the good and the bad.
Here’s what that looked like:
- We used insight from 1000 students from our Mental Health and Wellbeing Superhero survey and ran focus groups to dig deeper into what’s working and where things are falling short.
- Alex wrote a 2,000-word student submission, highlighting key areas of concern like assessment pressure and lack of targeted support for marginalised groups, as well as strengths like access to green spaces and a growing focus on preventative wellbeing support.
- We helped shape the assessors’ visit to campus, making sure student voices were front and centre throughout their time in Exeter.
- And we’re staying involved in the next phase - your new Guild President, Seb, will continue working with the University to make sure recommendations are actioned, not shelved.
This is a step in the right direction, but it’s only one part of the journey. We’ll be pushing for more progress, more accountability, and more student involvement every step of the way.
Your Students’ Guild