7 September 2012
Students encouraged to get a healthy body and mind
Photo opportunity: 12-2pm on Monday, 10th September at Campus Green. Piper the Penguin will be stepping between the sticks for a "beat-the-goalie" competition to mark the beginning of the Healthy Mind Healthy Body Award campaign.
New and returning students at the University of Dundee will be encouraged to embrace the physical and mental health benefits of exercise at a range of events held to mark the start of the 2012/13 term next week.
Student Services, Dundee University Students Union (DUSA), and the Sports Union have come together to raise awareness of the services and facilities available for students.
The programme of events will include the Sports Union's launch of the University's bid to obtain a Healthy Body Healthy Mind Award. This national awards scheme recognises institutions that actively promote sport and exercise as a means of maintaining good mental wellbeing.
The Sports Union team will be on hand at Campus Green from 12-2pm on Monday, 10th September to make staff and students aware of the campaign, hand out information, and invite any interested members of the University community to take part in a "beat-the-goalie" competition.
Student Services have organised a number of other events at DUSA on Monday, including healthy eating demonstrations, health checks, and talks. Stalls promoting University services for students, including the Nightline phone help service and the award-winning Peer Connections buddying scheme will be situated at DUSA from Monday to Wednesday.
Sports Union President Andy Smart said he hoped that following the success of London 2012 more students than ever before would be joining University sports clubs.
"This is the perfect time to get involved with any of the dozens of clubs and teams at the University but even if that seems too formal we really hope to communicate the message that exercise has both physical and mental benefits," he said.
"Come along and have a chat with us on Monday, and see if you can beat the goalie - our Sports Union mascot Piper the Penguin - at the same time. We will be handing out fliers highlighting the link between good mental health and sport, and also providing students with information about who to contact if they are struggling with depression or other mental illness.
"At the same time, we'll be launching our campaign to achieve a Healthy Body Healthy Mind Award at this event. The award aims to tackle the stigma associated with mental illness, and we want to get this message across to the whole student body."
Launched by NUS Scotland and Scottish Student Sport, the Healthy Body Healthy Mind Awards are designed to help institutions develop its mental health work into simple and positive areas which will have great benefits for both students and the institution as a whole.
Universities must work to make the award known, make the issue known, implement practical changes on their campus, and pass an evaluation of their mental health strategy to qualify for the award.
Sheena Stewart, from Student Services, said, "This award is a very worthwhile one and we will be working closely with the Sports Union and DUSA to ensure Dundee receives a high star rating at the end of the academic year.
"We will be letting students, new and returning, young and not-so-young, know about all the ways they can make their most of their time at University, settle in, make friends, immerse themselves and look after their physical and mental health."
More information about the support available to students at Dundee can be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/studentservices/.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
