Campus podcast: How to look after yourself in higher education
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Apr 17, 2025
Dive into the world of higher education as academics share their insights on tackling mental health challenges faced by both students and staff. They discuss the importance of setting boundaries amidst rising workloads and the impact of the pandemic. Listeners will discover personal strategies for cultivating well-being, such as practicing gratitude and carving out time for outdoor activities. The conversation emphasizes creating supportive environments and the vital role of self-care in navigating academic pressures.
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insights INSIGHT
Mental Health Crisis in Academia
Mental health issues are spiraling among students, with up to two-thirds reporting concerns, especially in high-achieving universities.
Academic and support staff mental health is also deeply strained but often overlooked in the sector.
insights INSIGHT
Staff Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
University staff experience compassion fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and burnout due to increased workloads and supporting stressed students.
Work-life boundaries blur, making it harder to say no and contributing to overwork in academia.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Gratitude Enhances Wellbeing
Practice gratitude by writing letters or emails to people who matter to you to boost your happiness.
This exercise spreads positivity, improving wellbeing for both the sender and receiver.
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The book tells the story of four characters—two mice named Sniff and Scurry, and two 'Littlepeople' named Hem and Haw—living in a maze and searching for their favorite cheese. When the cheese at their usual spot, Cheese Station C, disappears, the mice adapt quickly and find new cheese at Cheese Station N. However, the Littlepeople struggle with change, with Hem refusing to move and Haw eventually embracing the need to adapt. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of complacency and the importance of embracing change to succeed in both personal and professional life.
For this episode, we asked academics and university staff from around the world to share their own strategies for staying positive, healthy and maintaining balance in a sector in which stress and overwork are commonplace. At a time when higher education feels under attack in many countries, in more ways than one, it is important for those working in the sector to find coping strategies that work for them and build collective support.
Thank you to all who contributed their personal wisdom:
Lucas Lixinski is a law professor and associate dean at UNSW Sydney, which he joined after completing a postgraduate fellowship at the University of Texas School of Law.
Maha Bali is a professor of practice at the Center for Learning and Teaching at The American University in Cairo (AUC).
Doune Macdonald is an emerita professor at the University of Queensland and a visiting professor at the University of Sydney.
Debbie Riby is a professor of developmental psychology and associate pro-vice chancellor for postgraduate research students at Durham University
Bhawana Shrestha is a research fellow at the Learning Institute for Future Excellence at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
Chris Wright is a senior lecturer and co-ordinator of the Drawing Centre at De Montfort University.
Chin Moi Chow is an associate professor of sleep and well-being in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.
Pippa Caterall is a professor of history and policy at the University of Westminster.
Patrice Sewou is an associate professor of learning and teaching and the director of the Centre for the Advancement of Racial Equality at the University of Northampton.
Aster Cosmos is a learning designer at Monash University.
Campus by Times Higher Education 