‘Wear it on your sleeve’ mental health campaign at Ayrshire College
A number of staff and students at Ayrshire College have been wearing pink jumpers in the lead up to Mental Health Awareness Week (13-17 May), with ‘wear it on your sleeve’ emblazoned down the arms.
The campaign is the creation of Jack McCrindle, the current Student Vice President of the Ayrshire College Student Association, who will become Student President from 1 July. The initiative has been carried out at each campus by the Ayrshire College Student Association as a way to encourage the promotion of mental health awareness.
Jack sits on the Promoting Wellbeing Group at Ayrshire College – a cross-campus team of staff members who have developed and implemented a three-year action plan on: tackling the stigma around mental health issues and supporting everyone’s mental wellbeing at the College.
Jack said of the ‘Wear it on your Sleeve’ campaign: “The campaign aims to encourage students, and male students in particular, to be open about their mental health. We want them to know that it’s okay to express their feelings and emotions, and to let them know they are not alone when they are feeling low.
“We have asked different male staff and students to show their support and wear the pink jumper, creating a conversation around mental health. The aim is to create awareness of the support that’s available at Ayrshire College and promote positive mental health and wellbeing.”
The jumpers have been well received by staff and students at the College.
Hugh Dykes works as a Mental Health Liaison Officer at Ayrshire College in a partnership post created with NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Hugh said: “Men don’t always talk about their feelings, but I’m always available to help, and I’m asking people to talk and not feel stigmatised. If anyone is looking for help with their mental health then I’m well placed to advise them on that.”
Murray Baxter, Music and Sound Production lecturer at Ayrshire College, said: “I am passionate about supporting and encouraging the promotion of mental health, especially among young men and men in the music industry.”
10 May 2019
Share this post
