Storying the [ongoing] journey of the LJMU Wellbeing Journal: making molehills out of mountains by listening to student voices

Co-created by SAW, Academics, and students from the School of Education, the LJMU Wellbeing Journal embeds journaling and self-care into everyday student life, ensuring that wellbeing is not seen as an additional thing ‘to do’. Acknowledging the different needs and preferences of our diverse student population, the journal is available both electronically via the student portal, and as a physical journal, making it accessible to all.

The journal enables students to set and review goals and normalise the inevitable ups and downs of University life and the most recent curriculum enhancement project explored how the journal is being used across APSS to develop the strengths of the journal for roll out in September 2023. It ensures students have details of support services to hand should they require them at any point in the academic year. The Journal is supported by a bespoke programme of guided meditation sessions provided by Heather J Ray from My Well being School Australia and a social media campaign.

This workshop will showcase how academics, professional services teams and students can work together to create a tool which helps students to overcome feelings of isolation, enhances their sense of belonging and supports power-sharing in interactions between students and the university to develop a sense of community. Students will lead the way with their findings to establish a productive way forward.