Cardiff and Vale College joins with Health Assured to safeguard the wellbeing of its students

Cardiff and Vale College (@CAVC) has teamed up with mental health services provider Health Assured to launch an initiative aimed at protecting the health and wellbeing of its students.

Health Assured’s Student Assistance Programme (SAP) offers a confidential 24/7 service designed to help CAVC learners deal with personal or student-related problems, whether they are affecting their home life, education, health or general wellbeing. 

All CAVC students studying on a full or a part-time course will have 24/7 access to the service which includes life support with problems such as anxiety or depression, legal information, financial support and medical information.

The SAP also features a dedicated helpline for students and a health and wellbeing app, My Health Advantage, which offers lively chat, personalised news feed, mood checker and four week planner. The app also provides access to BrightTV, where celebrities such as Dame Kelly Holmes and Ruby Wax OBE discuss their personal experience with mental health.

Health Assured Corporate relationship Manager Alex Mcewan said: “Health Assured are proud to be running the Student Assistance Programme for Cardiff and Vale College.

“The Student Assistance Programme provides students with counselling support 24/7, 365 days a year. Our BACP accredited counsellors are on hand day and night to assist students with any issues they might be facing. We also have legal, financial and medical advisors, who can guide students on any concerns.

“The data shows that after engaging with counselling sessions, students felt a 50% reduction in feelings of anxiousness and a 56% reduction in feelings of depression and hopelessness. This support can be a lifeline when students need it most. We want the students of Cardiff and Vale College to know that Health Assured are here to help.”

Health Assured’s SAP is part of a suite of initiatives for CAVC students that are designed to support their health wellbeing. Learners at the College can also access the entire library of resources established by meditation and mindfulness experts Headspace. Higher education students can also access 24/7 mental health and wellbeing support from online community Togetherall.

Cardiff and Vale College Deputy Principal Sharon James said: “At Cardiff and Vale College we are fully committed to protecting the mental health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. This has been especially important over the last 18 months , as COVID-19 and restrictions it caused have had an inevitable impact upon people’s wellbeing.

“That is why we are continually building on the resources we can offer our students to help protect their mental health and wellbeing. This Student Assistance programme builds on the College’s already substantial provision, such as wellbeing teams, qualified counselling staff and other services in place across all campuses. It is this investment in and focus on wellbeing that was fundamental to the College being recognised in the Tes FE Awards as providing the best support in the UK. ”