Increasing Anxiety awareness in higher education during (post) Covid-19 pandemic

We applied for this project to address the need of increasing anxiety/mental health awareness among Higher Education Institutions’ staff and students. Students suffering from symptoms of mental health disorders, especially anxiety often feel excluded from the HE Institutions environment, since their issues are not recognized by other peers, staff and HE authorities, and in general HE institutions do not have mental health services to provide them support. Mental health in higher education and society at large has been for too long a neglected topic and has not gained enough spotlight until recent years. The project focused on starting active work, advocate and push forward for positive systematic changes that addressed the mental health of students and staff on both national and European levels in the academic setting. This project supported HEI staff in recognizing and working with anxiety among students by providing needed tools, resources and knowledge to recognize, manage, and support students with anxiety. It also developed and improved anxiety management skills among students.

The main objective of this project was to promote awareness of anxiety and mental health among staff and students within higher education institutions. A key focus was to provide staff with the necessary tools, resources, and expertise to identify, address, and support students dealing with anxiety. Through targeted training sessions, the project aimed to enhance students' ability to manage anxiety by fostering emotional competence and cultivating positive attitudes. Moreover, the initiative sought to create a more inclusive environment for anxious students by improving the knowledge and skills of their peers and the broader campus community.

WP1 - partners ensured effective coordination, cooperation and monitoring WP2 - Good Practice guidelines were developed, based on prior needs assessment, desk research and key informant interviews. WP3 - Awareness Raising Handbook was issued in all project language, as a tool to be used as a methodological guide for educators and relevant staff to develop a mental health awareness approach in HEI. WP4 - the e-training for HE staff, broken down across 5 modules was created, covering key concepts related to mentoring students and supporting HEI staff to strengthen anxiety management and accommodation in higher education. Also, e-course platform was created. Training seminars for HE Staff were held in each partner country (110 participants), followed by physical training of students in Poland, Cyprus, Spain and Ireland (136 participants). WP5 - dissemination efforts targeted the project’s audiences were undertaken, supported by 5 Multiplier Events, including a final conference in Poland (191 participants in total). Dissemination materials (4 newsletters, 10 press releases, and a leaflet) in partners languages. All project results and dissemination materials are available on the project website: https://www.awareformentalhealth.eu

WP1 - partners ensured efficient coordination, cooperation and monitoring; WP2 - Good Practice guidelines in all project languages; WP3 - Awareness raising handbook with 4 modules, available in all project languages, piloted with 27 key stakeholders, results of piloting summarized in a comprehensive report; WP4 - 5 modules of e-training for HE staff, e-course platform, Training seminars for HE Staff followed by physical training of students. WP5 - dissemination efforts targeted the project’s key audiences. 5 Multiplier Events, including a final conference in Poland (191 participants in total). Dissemination outputs included 4 newsletters, 10 press releases, and a leaflet, all available in partner languages, Policy Report – Recommendations with policy recommendations in the area of mental health of staff and students of higher education institutions in the consortium countries All project outcomes and dissemination materials are accessible on the project website: https://www.awareformentalhealth.eu