Mental Health and Wellbeing

Network Aim: To bring colleagues together across London to discuss pan-London challenges and develop pan-London solutions and projects in the space of mental health and wellbeing. The group provides a space for sharing good practice, developing supportive inter-institutional relationships, and producing reports and projects to demonstrate what London Higher members are doing in this space, and to tackle pressing challenges in the sector.

Current Project: University Mental Health Charter working group; partnerships with NHS and secondary mental health care referrals.

Membership: Heads of Wellbeing, Heads of Student Support, Heads of Student Services.

Chairs:

Jennifer Alsop, Associate Dean of Students (Wellbeing and Inclusion), University of the Arts London

Jenny is Associate Dean of Students (Wellbeing and Inclusion) at University of the Arts London, where she was previously Head of the University Disability Service. In her role as Associate Dean, Jenny leads UAL’s wellbeing and inclusion services for students, including counselling, health, disability, and chaplaincy. She provides strategic vision and leadership related to student wellbeing, inclusion and related policies/procedures, also chairing a multidisciplinary case review group and undertaking complex case work.

Mike Bryant, Head of Student Wellbeing, RADA

Mike Bryant is an experienced mental health professional with over three decades of expertise in counselling, therapy, and wellbeing services in higher education settings. Currently serving as the Head of Wellbeing at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), Mike manages both the Counselling and Disability Services.With a background in student support, Mike has held key positions at several London HEIs including Goldsmiths, where he managed the Student Counselling Service, and LSE, where he worked as a Student Counsellor for eight years.

His experience extends to policy development, having worked as a Senior Consultant at the Centre for Mental Health. Mike has also served at the Care Quality Commission, leading a team of inpatient inspectors and contributing to service improvements in NHS trusts and private mental health hospitals. Mike’s qualifications include a Master’s in Social Work, BACP Senior Accreditation, and an IT postgraduate degree. He has contributed to the field through publications, including co-authoring books on self-hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

Aneeska Sohal, Head of Strategy for Student Mental Health & Wellbeing, King’s College London (UMHC working group)

Aneeska is the Head of Strategy for Student Mental Health and Wellbeing at King’s College London. She previously worked at Mind, the UK’s mental health charity. She is a Trustee for Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity and founder of the University Mental Health Charter initiative. Aneeska is also the honorary trustee who sits on the Anti-Racism Council at Student Minds. She is also the Founder and Project Manager behind the All Things Mental Health podcast, focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of young minds and students. The podcast is now in the top 15% most shared podcasts, globally.