Colleague Wellbeing

International Conflict Support

Events taking place around the world can have a significant impact on our wellbeing, particularly when they affect places we call home, communities we identify with, or people we care about. 

As an international university, we recognise that humanitarian crises, conflict, and global emergencies can deeply affect members of our community. Many of our students and colleagues have family, friends, and loved ones living in regions experiencing uncertainty, violence, or displacement. 

We understand that these situations can bring feelings of worry, grief, anger, uncertainty, or helplessness. If you have been affected by events taking place anywhere in the world, we want you to know that support is available.

We understand that people will be affected by these events and may need support for their wellbeing. 

Internal support available includes:

  • Here for Colleagues hub
    • The Here for Colleagues hub signposts to a number of support services and resources available to colleagues.
  • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)- Spectrum Life
    • Support from Spectrum Life include: 
      • Emotional Support and Counselling (if clinically appropriate): Spectrum Life’s experienced and compassionate counsellors are available to listen and provide emotional support. They can help you process your feelings and provide guidance on coping strategies.
      • Work-Life Balance Support: Spectrum Life can assist you in managing work-related stress and enable you to manage day to day life during these challenging times.
      • Financial and Legal Consultation: Spectrum Life provide access to experts who can offer guidance on financial and legal matters that may arise during the current events.
      • Mental Health Resources: Access a wide range of resources, including articles, videos, and self-help tools, to help you better understand and manage your mental health and wellbeing.
  • Occupational Health
    • If anxiety or low mood is impacting on your day-to-day work, as a colleague or PGR teaching colleague, you can speak to the person you report to and discuss what they can do to support you. The University’s Occupational Health Management Referral process can be useful for seeking advice regarding reasonable adjustments if needed.
  • Multifaith Chaplaincy

External support available includes:

  • The NHS talking therapies service offers free programmes such as counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for mental health conditions such as anxiety and low mood.

If you need support, or someone to talk to, please do get in touch with Wellbeing Services in Exeter and Cornwall for support and guidance; they are here to help. 

The Students’ Guild in Exeter and Students’ Union in Cornwall are also here to support members of our student community who are affected. They are reaching out to societies and communities to see how they can best support them at this time and encourage any students to contact them if they are in need or have suggestions for how best to assist them. 

At the University of Exeter, we are an inclusive community where everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. All forms of harassment, bullying and discrimination go against all that we stand for and will not be tolerated. 

You can access our Support & Report tools for staff if you have experienced or witnessed any form of unacceptable behaviour.