Behind the pursuit of discovery, many researchers are quietly struggling with wellbeing challenges shaped by academic structures, workplace culture, and personal pressures. This blog post explores three key challenges and prompts reflection on researcher wellbeing as a shared institutional responsibility.
Wellbeing is a term we hear frequently, and with good reason. It encompasses our physical, social and mental health, and it is encouraging to see how much progress has been made in recognising its importance. Not long ago, many people felt they simply had to “get on with it,” regardless of how challenging life became. 1 in 6 people of employable age experience mental health problems, with 50% of work days lost due to mental health illness.
Following a tragic event in 2025, I took several months away from work to look after my own wellbeing. As anyone who’s ever had to go to the GP and opening up can attest, it felt like a monumentally difficult thing to do. In hindsight, the decision was obviously the correct one and I benefitted from this time in many ways, yet I spent so much time and energy worrying about whether I should take the leap and advocate for myself that it made some of the more significant, immediate, emotions even worse. This worry can be so huge for many of us that often, we simply don’t do take the leap.
This post challenges the tradition of name-rounds in large meetings and workshops, arguing they often fail to foster genuine connection. The post explores inclusive, purposeful alternatives that build comfort and engagement – without the awkwardness.
This post explores how reading poetry can support wellbeing by fostering emotional processing and resilience and offering a moment of calm, as well as supporting academic development.
The University of Manchester’s Parents, Carers and Guardians Network celebrate Eid with engaging activities, partner with Champions Basketball Club to promote family well-being through sport, and host another Lunch & Connect session to support parents and carers, fostering inclusion and community across the university.
Have you ever noticed something—a comment, a glance, or an action—that left you unsettled? Maybe it wasn’t overtly wrong, and if you told someone else, they might not understand why it bothered you. Even so, you felt it—that discomfort in your gut, telling you something wasn’t quite right. This is where being an Active Bystander matters.
My name’s Katie, and I am in autistic burnout. I’ve been a lecturer at UoM since 2017. I’m surrounded by wonderful colleagues, enthusiastic and talented students and have extremely supportive (and frequently delightfully weird) family and friends. I have a hen’s tooth of a job – I’m permanent! So why do I feel so awful?
You may have seen that The University of Manchester is now an Endometriosis Friendly Employer. If you’re searching for information on how to best support your team members, or are seeking support for yourself, please read on.
This month is Wellbeing Support Month in our EDI Calendar. Wellbeing underpins everything we do and impacts our ability to show up, be present and really thrive at work, at home and in all areas of our lives.
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