In Student Wellbeing, each faculty has a Wellbeing Adviser attached to it.  Wellbeing Advisers are the people that we as Drop-in Assistants would refer students to when they need additional support.  There is always a Wellbeing Adviser on Drop-in for students who need more time than the typical 15-minute slot.  This could be due to complex issues, a matter that needs to be urgently resolved or concerns around safety.

Wellbeing Advisers can maintain contact with students to help them engage in support options.  They can talk through tools to improve wellbeing and can link with the school where necessary.  Wellbeing Advisers are regularly asked to attend Student Support Meetings and be involved in Support to Continue Study processes.  They offer advice and guidance on wellbeing issues that are impacting academics.

In this blog, we are introducing Megan.  She is the Postgraduate Wellbeing Adviser and is in the unique position of supporting students across all the faculties if they are studying a PGT or PGR programme.  Questions we put to Megan:

1.How long have you worked in Wellbeing?

I started in 2019 in the Drop in Service in the Student Guidance Centre, before we moved to One Elmwood.

2. Do you have any areas of interest with regards to your job?  Does this relate to your background?  What past experience do you bring to your role?

My background is in careers and employment and helping people with barriers to employment. I like to see people overcome their barriers and progressing.  That progression is not just in their studies but in their networking, their self-care, their connections and becoming part of the wider QUB community

3. What do you enjoy about your job?

Meeting the students and seeing their progress.

4. What calms you when you feel stressed?

Talking and TV.

5. What would be on your exam preparation playlist and are there any reasons why?

None, I like silence to concentrate as I am easily distracted but I reward myself afterwards with a good podcast – usually a comedian.  Musically, 90s-the best era for music of course!

Megan can be found every Wednesday at the Graduate School social space between 10am and 12pm.  Students can call in to Wellbeing Wednesdays for a cup of tea and conversation on a variety of topics.  Students regularly tell us that they enjoy the sense of community and feeling that they are not alone in their difficulties.  There are often guests from different services in the university to chat about support.