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Why focus on Wellbeing?

The university and college experience is full of ups and downs. Students face new challenges such as homesickness, time management, partying, budgeting and making new friends. Alongside moments of pure joy, there will be times of bitter disappointment. It should and will feel difficult at times. Being challenged and moving outside our comfort zone are both necessary if we are to grow into our potential. Alongside success, students may experience failure, disappointment, disengagement and even disillusionment with the choices they have made. This is all part of the journey.

While we cannot directly cause individual students to be happy in their college experience, through the application of positive psychology, we strive to create the right conditions for students to enhance their own wellbeing and as a result, more fully reach their potential. Focusing on personal strengths, positive emotions and factors related to success and thriving helps students to establish positive habits and lay the foundations for strong relationships and good decision making that will serve them in their future.

At King’s we define wellbeing as leading a happy and meaningful life.

Being happy is about maximising positive emotions through positive experiences, such as attending social events, laughing with friends, winning a sports competition, feeling inspired after an engaging lecture, eating good food, travelling with friends.

Leading a meaningful life is about using our character strengths to achieve personal development and growth as well as serving others. For example, persevering at a valued goal despite obstacles, volunteering our time, carefully listening to another’s point of view, training for a competition and expressing gratitude.

Our wellbeing framework is based on the work of one of the world’s leading psychologist’s Martin Seligman. He suggests that there are 5 specific areas that contribute to wellbeing

Positive Emotions, Engagement, Positive Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment.

We (along with other researchers) believe that the development of Health (eating, sleeping, moving) is also very important so we have added the H for Health, making our model:

Residential staff, led by the Deputy CEO and the Associate Director of Student Wellbeing, are available to listen to the concerns of students, and provide guidance and support. Staff members are scheduled to be on duty to assist students with health or personal issues at all times, including weekends and evenings.

A team of Residential Leaders, employed by the College, receive mental health and positive psychology training to provide easily accessible support and guidance to College members. Senior staff are present seven nights per week to help ensure the safety of the students.

Every student is part of a small community in their flat. A Residential Leader will help develop the flat community, building friendships and teamwork among those that live there. All Residential Leaders are First Aid trained.

Additional Support

Additional support is available from our Associate Director of Student Wellbeing, Deputy CEO, and the Director and Associate Director of Academic & Career Development.

These staff members are highly skilled and experienced in addressing the unique needs of young people. They can also help to refer students to external psychologists and counsellors.