Teams from across the county dedicated to supporting mental health will gather at the University’s Waterside Campus next week.
University Mental Health Day (UMHD) takes place nationally within Higher Education communities each year. The event aims to raise awareness of mental health, encourage open conversations and promote wellbeing.
The University has supported UMHD since it started and will hold its annual ‘mental health and wellbeing support and advice under one roof’ event for students and staff on Thursday, 12 March, between 10am and 4pm.
The theme this year is Human Connections, and more than 30 services* from within the University and the wider town and county will all be under one roof in the Learning Hub on campus, including:
- Ark Farm’s petting zoo is available between 11am and 2pm with ducks, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, owls and hedgehogs. They will be joined by Waterside regulars (they are on campus every Wednesday), the always lovable Pets as Therapy dogs.
- Experience Virtual Reality relaxation and use a massage chair, supervised by the University’s Mental Health Nursing students. The team will also promote healthy eating and physical activity with their smoothie bike (ingredients provided)!
- Play a variety of board games and activities.
- Get creative with crafting, drawing and doodle sheets – a great way to take a break from worries.
- ‘Juggling’ – how much are you juggling in your life? Advice and top tips for managing study and maintaining a good academic and personal life balance.
- Win freebies by using the Students’ Union’s Spinney Wheel. Goodies include stress and anxiety-relieving fidget, highlighter pen, dark chocolate and pens. The SU also have a competition to win a wellbeing hamper. The SU will also hold a ‘De-stress dance’ session on 17 March, 1pm-3pm in the Engine Shed.
Jo Lester, Counselling and Mental Health Team Manager, says: “Supporting the mental health of our community has been a key facet of the University of Northampton for many years. In fact, we were the first Higher Education institution to create a dedicated mental health service, launched in 1997.
“The theme of this year’s awareness day is about human connections, underlining how important social relationships can be for maintaining good mental health. For University Mental Health Day, our community will have an opportunity to experience the best that our county teams and we can offer to support good connections.”
Find out more about University Mental Health Day 2026 on the UON website.
*The list of confirmed organisations as of 4 March 2026) is:
- Ark Farm
- ARMS
- APT Talking Therapies Northants
- Crisis Pathway
- East Midlands Gambling Harm Unit
- Eating Disorder Service
- En-Fold
- GamCare
- The Lowdown
- MIND
- NDAS
- Northamptonshire Integrated Sexual Health and HIV Service (NISHH)
- NGage
- Nstep
- PAT Dogs
- Service Six
- Space2talk
- Suicide Prevention/West Northamptonshire Council
- University of Northampton teams: ASSIST, IHD/Stuart (Take a break Café), Counselling and Mental Health Team, Financial Guidance, Mindfulness Creativity, ManSpace (men’s mental health), Domestic Abuse Sexual Violence Stalking and Harmful Practices/healthy relationships, Mental Health Nursing, Mental Health First Aiders, Multifaith Centre, Safe Zone, Mental Health Charter/Spectrum Life, Staff Mental Health Network/HR, Student Futures, Student Support and Advice, Northampton Students’ Union, Unison, Care Leavers and Estranged Students.