Empowering Minds: Mental Health Support for University Staff

08Oct 2024 by Kittipong Bunlear

Sustainability and Stewardship

Currently, stress and mental health issues are significant problems that affect the work performance of staff in many organizations, including educational institutions. University personnel manage diverse responsibilities, which can present opportunities for personal growth, but also require effective strategies to maintain well-being and mental health. Walailak University recognizes this issue and has taken concrete steps to address it by establishing the Smile & Smart Center and Psychiatry Clinic, which provide staff with access to active promotion of good mental health support.

The Smile & Smart Center and Psychiatry Clinic aim to promote the mental well-being of staff through comprehensive and proactive services. These centers use screening and assessment tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) to help analyze and screen staff at risk. This ensures timely care for those in need of mental health support.

Figures : The access to the Centers related to mental health care for active promotion of good mental health support for staff.

This proactive approach also involves connecting at-risk staff with the Smile & Smart Center, Psychiatry Clinic, and the Walailak University Hospital, a specialized mental health treatment hub. These services not only help staff better adapt to the workplace but also foster mental balance, enabling them to work more effectively.

In 2023, Moreover, the Smile Clinic of the School of Nursing at Walailak University continued to provide free assessments and counseling to students, university staff, and external individuals, serving a total of 103 people. The mental health issues identified among students, staff, and others included depression, stress, and anxiety. The most commonly diagnosed conditions were MDD, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The clinic’s services yielded consistently positive outcomes, with 65% of cases successfully closed, 22% requiring ongoing care, and 13% needing referral to the Psychiatric Clinic for further treatment.

Mental Health Promotion Activities

In addition to providing mental health assessment and care services, the Smile & Smart Center also organizes activities to enhance the skills and potential of staff for active promotion of good mental health. These include workshops such as “Empowering CSE: Ignite Your Energy” for personnel at the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment, the HELPER training for staff care skills, and activities to strengthen faculty members’ mental health support abilities through Q&A sessions and experience sharing. These activities aim to help staff improve their self-care capabilities and develop workplace skills. Empowering CSE: Ignite Your Energy

Figures : Empowering CSE; Ignite Your Energy the HELPER training.

Figures : The HELPER training.

Figures : The Smile & Smart Center organizes a faculty development activity on the topic “All About Q&A: Mental Health Care”.

Figures : The Smile & Smart Center organizes the activity “Talk-Complain-Ask-Answer-Share and Listen”.

Figures : The Smile & Smart Center organizes a workshop to enhance the competencies of academic advisors, featuring a Coaching course using the GROW Model.

Figures : The Smile & Smart Center organizes the “Building Connections in Law” activity for the staff of the School of Law at Walailak University

Figures : The Smile & Smart Center organizes a workshop to enhance the competencies of academic advisors, featuring a Basic Counseling course.

Through the proactive efforts of the Smile & Smart Center and the Psychiatric Clinic, Walailak University has been able to effectively reduce mental health issues among its staff. Employees who receive mental health care and assessment are more likely to adapt and perform better in their roles, with increased readiness to develop their skills and potential. This improvement positively impacts overall work performance.

Walailak University’s support for staff mental health through the Smile & Smart Center and Psychiatric Clinic represents a proactive and appropriate approach to addressing mental health issues at their root. This results in improved mental well-being for staff, enabling them to work efficiently and fully develop their potential.