The Open University

World Health Day – spotlight on OU research

5 April 2019

As we mark World Health Day on the 7 April, The Open University’s Research Team takes a look at the research that has shaped and influenced the health sector. Removing stigma about abortion Research by Professor Lesley Hoggart, led to the creation of the MyBodyMyLife exhibition, a space in which anyone could share their stories. This […]

Demelza Dachtler receiving Commanding Officers Commendation with her mother, Julie

Following in her mother’s footsteps

29 March 2019

As a child Demelza Dachtler grew up watching her mother, Julie, study for a Masters with The Open University. Today, she’s an OU graduate herself, is on the verge of completing her own OU Masters, and is about to become a mother for the first time. We spoke to Demelza last year, and now, in the […]

The OU has the highest number of students declaring a mental health condition in the UK

7 March 2019

On University Mental Health Day (7 March), The Open University has announced that it has the highest number of students declaring a mental health condition across the UK (6,025), and that proportion has increased year-on-year over the past 10 years. As a proud supporter of University Mental Health Day, it’s essential that as the debate about […]

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week

8 February 2019

Mental health problems affect 1 in 10 children and young people, with more than half (56%) saying that they worry ‘all the time’ about at least one thing to do with their school life, home life or themselves. As we mark Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (4-10 February), Dr Jackie Musgrave, Programme Leader for Early Childhood and Primary […]

Time to Talk Day – importance of friendship

6 February 2019

On the 7 February 2019, it’s Time to Talk Day – a day to encourage conversations about mental health and raise funds and awareness for charities, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. Mental health affects one in four of us each year in the UK, with anxiety and depression being the most common problems. Even with so […]

How do junk food adverts affect your children? – new OpenLearn course gives us the facts

4 February 2019

The Open University has launched a free OpenLearn course, which explores children’s food, marketing, eating and health in the context of their rights. Children and young people: food and food marketing, asks what the factors are that influence the foods that children eat – is it children’s or parents’ choices? Family or cultural influences? Or the wider food […]

Millennial burnout: building resilience is no answer – we need to overhaul how we work

21 January 2019

Dr Rajvinder Samra, Lecturer in Health at The Open University discusses millennial burnout for The Conversation. In a popular BuzzFeed article, Anne Helen Petersen describes how millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996) became “the burnout generation”. She describes some of the stark consequences of edging towards burnout and identifies what she calls “errand paralysis”, marked by […]

Wellbeing tips for 2019

15 January 2019

‘New year, new you’ has long been a motto for January, as we endeavour to cleanse ourselves after the indulgences of the festive season. Dr Mathijs Lucassen, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Dr Jitka Vseteckova, Senior Lecturer in Health, Wellbeing and Social Care at The Open University, talk us through their five top tips for […]

Future of nursing – OU nursing students graduate

2 January 2019

For the past four years, The Open University has had a strong relationship with Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Kings Lynn. With the support of Health Education England (HEE), three hardworking Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) were given the opportunity to study for a Degree in Nursing with The OU. Now fully qualified nurses, they talk about their […]

Baking it Better – can baking help tackle anxiety?

19 December 2018

Liz suddenly experienced a series of anxiety attacks, which forced her to stop working for a long period of time. Baking became her outlet, as it was the only activity that would prevent further attacks. The following video is a key part of the Approaches to Mental Health module that can be studied on a variety of […]

OU News

Category: Health