World Mental Health Day: ‘Better times lie ahead’

Today is World Mental Health Awareness Day – a very important day in the calendar, and one that is especially notable given developments over the past year.

The cost of living crisis and high inflation have put pressure on all colleagues, with bills far larger than they were a year or two ago. To add to this, economic pressures on the University and the resulting recruitment controls and change initiatives have had an impact on our workloads.

I know that this has not made life easy and, on top of everything else life throws at you and your families, these pressures are an ongoing source of anxiety for many.

On this day of all days, it is important to recognise the understandable impact this may be having on our mental health. I wish I had an easy answer but I don’t. In this, as in all things, though, I want to address this concern in an open and honest way.

Times are tough right now, and not just for us – universities across the UK face similar challenges. But there are a number of projects ongoing here at Reading that are aimed at improving working life at the University in the longer term.

Workloads and cost of living

Reducing workloads through addressing inefficiencies was a priority even before this new economic reality was forced upon us. The Portfolio Review, for example, isn’t an overnight fix but is making important changes that will future-proof our processes, improve our teaching offering for students and reduce the complexity that takes up unnecessary staff time.

The Professional Services Programme, currently advancing as part of our response to financial challenges, will also reduce complexity in our organisational structures and processes. Building on what is already being done in the teaching sphere by the Portfolio Review, one aim of this workstream is to reduce red tape and making it quicker and easier for colleagues to get things done.

Both of these are at an early stage so, while it might feel like the work required to achieve them is adding to the problem, they will ease pressure on all of us in the years to come. I anticipate we will start to see the benefits of these new ways of working in the next academic year, and that these benefits will be long-lasting.

On cost of living, we were one of the universities to award the biggest pay rise in over a decade in full. I acknowledge that pay packets have not risen as quickly as living costs, but we have sought to be as fair as we can be to colleagues while keeping our operational costs sustainable and making necessary savings to reduce our current deficit.

We also continue to provide discounted meals for staff on campus and subsidised public transport, among other measures to help staff financially.

Supportive environment

I continue to value your hard work, and I know my UEB and Leadership Group colleagues do as well. It is not for nothing. It is allowing us to progress the work required to deliver these improvements to our working lives. It is also why, despite Covid and inflation, we’ve continued to deliver on our Strategic Plan. While it might feel tough right now, the benefits are coming and they are not so far away.

I am particularly proud that colleagues remain so supportive of one another, whether it be through social initiatives or peer-to-peer support within workspaces or via staff networks. It is vital that the University facilitates this supportive environment. One way we do this is by offering mental health first aid training through People Development, offering guidance on how to help colleagues if we see they are struggling. I have completed this training myself, and would recommend it to anyone. Contact People Development for more information.

Finally, if you feel overwhelmed due to work, or indeed any other pressures, please know that help is available from the University.

Our online wellbeing resources cover a range of topics, from coping with stress to financial advice. Our Employee Assistance Programme also provides free emotional and practical support and counselling, including a 24/7 confidential helpline to discuss any issues you are facing.

I urge you to use these services if you need them and I reiterate that work is ongoing to navigate to better times ahead.