Learn more about how we are aiming to achieve the University Mental Health Charter Award for Sussex.
Our approach
The University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) takes a whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing. It requires resourced, effective, and accessible mental health services delivering proactive support interventions. Ensuring an environment and culture that reduces poor mental health is vital, alongside supporting good mental health and facilitating staff and students to develop insight, understanding, and skills to manage and maintain their own wellbeing.
To learn more about the UMHC, visit the UMHC Award page or download their Principles of good practice booklet [1.1MB PDF].
Our taskforce
The UMHC has five main domains and 18 sub themes, each with a University lead:
- Live – Amy Moorhouse, Residential Life Manager, DSE
- Learn – Lara McMurtry, Associate Dean, Education and Students (LPS)
- Support – Amanda Griffiths, Head of Wellbeing Services (Wellbeing, Therapeutic, Residential Life and Chaplaincy), DSE
- Work – Wendy Carey, Staff Wellbeing Manager, HR
- Enabling Themes – Robin Banerjee, Pro-Vice Chancellor Global and Civic Engagement
The taskforce group, chaired by Craig Lowe, Director of Student Support and Wellbeing (DSE), has worked over the last 12 months to assess how the University meets the charter.
Award Update
In November 2026, Student Minds confirmed an Award in Progress result, meaning the assessment panel was confident that a full award can be made within 12 months.
This outcome confirms that the University has made strong, sustainable progress towards embedding a whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing and is firmly on track to achieve the Charter Award.
The panel would like to thank all staff and students involved in the assessment and for providing ongoing support to our community. A further update will follow in August 2027.