Mental health is a challenging topic. It raises complex issues. It involves a wide range of conditions. Each condition is complex. The impact of mental health conditions differs for each individual, across a wide spectrum. The subject of mental health is often emotional and difficult to discuss. For this reason, individuals often believe that the only support they can get for their mental health is support from the medical profession, therapists and counsellors.

Similarly, initiatives around mental wellbeing in a workplace and education setting reflect this complexity around mental health. Mental health strategies tend to focus on offering in-house training so that people are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of poor mental health. Then they can signpost to external specialist medical or therapeutic support.

As a consequence, managers & leaders in the workplace and tutors & teachers in an education context tend to feel a frustrated sense of responsibility when dealing with mental health. They would like to offer more direct support; but consider that the complexities of the way the mind works are outside their ability to assist.

This workshop approaches mental wellbeing from a different perspective. The starting proposition is that mental health isn’t just about the complexities of the mind; it’s about your environment too. In a supportive environment, someone with a mental health challenge can do well. In a difficult environment, even someone who might be considered resilient could find their wellbeing challenged.

So, there are now two possible strategies. One can deal with the way the mind works. The other can deal with the impact that the workplace or educational environment has on wellbeing.

Approaching wellbeing from a situational or environmental perspective opens up a world of new opportunities. Individuals are empowered to reflect on their environment and identify the situations that have the biggest impact on their wellbeing. They can then make guided choices about how to better manage their wellbeing and strengthen their resilience.

Equally, leaders, managers, tutors and teachers can feel empowered to offer support without feeling a sense of frustrated responsibility. In their role, they are able to directly influence the workplace or educational environment.

By shifting the conversation from the mind to the environment, organisations can provide in-house support and create a culture and a mindset that enables a positive approach to mental wellbeing.

This workshop is designed to help participants work out how to identify the things in their environment that have the biggest impact on their wellbeing. It helps them make choices about how to improve their wellbeing. And it enables them to have focused and mentally healthy conversations so that they can use the same approach to support others.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

The workshop is designed to enable you to:

• Explore the meaning of “resilience” in a wellbeing context
• Discover the benefits of reflecting on your daily environment to discover the things that have the biggest impact on your wellbeing
• Explore your options for addressing challenging situations in a way that enables you to manage your wellbeing
• Work through some tools, tips and techniques for strengthening resilience.
• Discover how to have mentally healthy conversations with others, in a non-medicalised way, which leads to you being able to give or get support for wellbeing.

Presenter biography:

Jonathan Phelan runs Evenhood which helps people manage their wellbeing, strengthen their resilience and have mentally healthy conversations. Evenhood works with employers and universities offering training and coaching. Jonathan is the author of ‘The Art of the Mentally Healthy Conversation’, ‘Be A More Resilient You!’ and ‘Boo-Bear’s Favourite Things’.

Lower back pain is a common complaint affecting 80% of people in their lifetimes. This talk will look to establish common causes of lower back pain especially caused by sitting for long periods. We will look at some anatomy and give simple practical solutions to prevent and treat lower back pain. We will have time to answer questions from the audience.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Identify causes of lower back pain.
• Provide practical solutions to prevent lower back pain.
• Provide practical solutions to treat lower back pain.
• Provide practical advice for people sitting at home.

Presenter biography:

Sam MacGregor (BSc, Msc) is Clinical Lead based in Loughborough University Sports Medicine clinic. Working with athletes, student population and public on a daily basis. Previously working as Head of Academy Sports Science & Medicine at Derby County Football Academy for 9 years. Prior to this Sam worked in the NHS working with a wide range of patients.  

Open to anyone of all backgrounds to learn skills of reflection that can help develop inner calm, clear thinking and personal well-being.

Using practical techniques based on the practice of Raja Yoga Meditation, this session will comprise short meditations (1 - 10 minutes) interspersed with short talks on how and why to practise meditation.

Meditations will be with music and spoken commentaries to demonstrate how it can be both exciting and innovative.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Experience peace and inner calm
• Improve concentration
• Increase energy levels
• Become more self-aware

Presenter biography:

Natalie's varied career has included working in Social Services and in television. She now dedicates her time to giving talks and workshops on self-development with the ultimate aim to enable people to find their true potential. Having practised meditation for the last 25 years Natalie works as a Chaplain and facilitates self-development courses at Loughborough University.

Sleep is ‘by the brain for the brain’ and the session begins with a general overview of sleep and why we sleep.

As will be seen, our society’s level of ‘sleeplessness’, is no worse today than it ever was, and claims that adults need around 8h daily sleep are misleading, as are assertions that any such ‘sleep debt’ leads to eg obesity and related disorders.

Nevertheless, all this further adds to the worries for those with insomnia, for whom there is research based practical advice about improving sleep. Feeling ‘tired’ is not necessarily the same as sleepiness.

During this the session, an outline of other common sleep disorders will be given and attendees will be encouraged to discuss these topics. 

Presenter biography:

Prof (emeritus) Jim Horne DSc FRSB FBPsS - Until retirement I ran the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, with the Centre well known internationally for its research. My work has been and continues to be published extensively in the scientific and medical literature (eg go to PUBMED – use ‘Horne J AND sleep’ for search), and is often cited by the media. I was the Editor of the Journal of Sleep Research for 15y. I still maintain various ongoing collaborative projects with other universities and organisations, and I am presently Hon. Sec. of the Sleep Medicine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine. My main sleep interests are: ‘why we sleep’; sleep loss effects on body and brain, critically appraising ‘sleep debt’, and practical issues, particularly ‘falling asleep at the wheel’ for which we have undertaken much research. I have another, recent book “Sleeplessness’ (Palgrave Macmillan – available in printed, electronic and audio formats !). 

Global Latin inspired dance fitness session (45m) for all fitness abilities. Follow our student Zumba instructors Ellie and Lucy-Anne, and release those endorphins whilst dancing yourself fit.

Learn several Latin inspired fitness routines set to a range of music including salsa, merengue, reggaeton and many more.

Presenter biography:

Student Zumba Instructors on behalf of Sports Development Centre & the Recreational Sport Programme Team.