Last week, United Colleges Group (UCG) celebrated its annual EmpowerMENt Week, an initiative designed to raise awareness around mental health, particularly for male students. 

Men’s mental health is an important topic in the UK today. According to the Mental Health Foundation, men report lower levels of life satisfaction to women yet only make up 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies. Diana Brown,  Head of Student Support Services at UCG, found a similar behavioural trend across colleges: 

“We noticed that our female students are very good at seeking help from Student Support Services but this skill – of recognising a problem and seeking support - is not reflected in our male cohort. Therefore, the our team launched EmpowerMENt week, to make sure that every student, no matter their gender, felt empowered to acknowledge and discuss mental health, and seek support where needed.” 

Now in its second year, EmpowerMENt week helps students recognise the importance of combating unhelpful stigmas around men’s mental health. As part of the initiative, in-person workshops were staged on topics including consent and boundaries, finance, conflict resolution and personal safety. 

The highlight of the week was a dynamic panel discussion at Paddington Campus about “mind health”, featuring a group of diverse speakers made up of staff and invited guests. The event drew a crowd of 95 students, who actively participated in thought-provoking discussions initiated by the panel such as “Do you love yourself?” and “What’s your superpower?”. 

Students at Willesden campus celebrated EmpowerMENt week with the arrival of a United Borders bus, a charity that works to support at-risk youths in the local community. Student rap artists performed on the bus, sharing their experiences and covering themes of wellbeing and resilience. 

Compassion and empathy are core principles at United Colleges Group. EmpowerMENt week is an example of how the college works to ensure every student feels acknowledged, accepted, and empowered to use the tools they need to thrive.