Oldham College
The Future of Wellbeing: Early Intervention and the MHQ in Educational Settings
This 30-minute workshop, delivered by Danielle Vipond and Paula Litherland, will explore innovative approaches to supporting mental health and wellbeing in educational settings, focusing on early intervention and prevention. Paula will introduce the Mental Health Questionnaire (MHQ), a psychometric tool developed with Edge Hill University for MH1 Global. The MHQ is designed to track mental health trajectories using 11 lifestyle outcomes as indicators, offering insight into physical, cognitive, and metabolic health. It is intended as a preventative strategy, enabling timely behavioural changes before issues escalate into chronic health concerns. This bespoke tool is a promising development for workplace wellbeing and provides data-driven, practical pathways to support the broader determinants of health.
Following this, Danielle will draw upon his doctoral research into the mental health and wellbeing of Further Education (FE) teachers, sharing current findings highlighting systemic issues affecting staff, such as workload, role ambiguity, and institutional culture. Danielle will link this research to the potential impact of tools like the MHQ in helping educational institutions move from reactive to proactive approaches. The session will emphasise embedding wellbeing strategies into everyday practice and policy.
Attendees will leave with an understanding of how tools like the MHQ can support long-term workforce retention, reduce burnout, and contribute to a culture of care. The session aims to generate discussion around sustainable, evidence-informed solutions for protecting the well-being of those working in the FE sector and beyond.