Dumfries and Galloway College has held a pioneering mental health initiative on its campus.
Staff and students at the college organised Problem Solving Booths to encourage open and frank discussions among its college community around any issue that may be troubling them.
The Booths, supported by mental health charity Trapeze and overseen by psychologist Soad Nasr, encouraged participants to open up to their peers about what may be bothering them.
Problem Solving Booths bring together a helped person, who has something to share about a problem that they may have, with a helper, who is willing to take the time to listen.
Students and staff who took part in the initiative praised it as useful in opening up the conversation around mental health which is all too often a taboo subject.
Trapeze is a mental health charity that aims to use its wealth of psychological skills and experience creatively to alleviate emotional distress and improve wellbeing with community settings.
Dumfries and Galloway College is committed to ensuring that all students and staff members can access the wellbeing services they require to have a well-rounded college experience.
Vice Principal Corporate Services and Business Development, Andy Glen, said:
“We all know that it’s good to open up and discuss what’s getting us down; but all too often many of us find it difficult.
“That’s why we’re happy to be working with Trapeze to introduce their Problem Solving Booths to our college – to get people to talk in a safe and non-judgemental environment.
“We’ve had some very positive feedback from people who have been both helpers and helped as part of this initiative and we’re keen to see it come back to our college in the future.”
