The LJMU Wellbeing Journal: co-creation, impact and future plans

Abstract

Co-created by SAW, academic staff, and students from the School of Education, the LJMU Wellbeing Journal embeds journaling and self-care into everyday student life, ensuring that wellbeing is not seen as an additional thing ‘to do’. Acknowledging the different needs and preferences of our diverse student population, the journal is available both electronically via the student portal, and as a physical journal, making it accessible to all. As self-care and success look different for every student, users can tailor the tool to work for them, learning and reflecting on what helps them to maintain their wellbeing. The journal enables students to set and review goals and normalise the inevitable ups and downs of university life. It ensures students have details of support services to hand should they require them at any point in the academic year. The Journal is supported by a bespoke programme of guided meditation sessions provided by Heather J Ray from My Well being School Australia and a social media campaign.        

This workshop will showcase how academics and professional services teams can work together with students to create a tool which helps students to overcome feelings of isolation, enhances their sense of belonging or mattering and supports power-sharing in interactions between students and the university.