10/10/2026
You are more than the work you do.
At Gray’s School of Art and RGU’s School of Health, we spend a lot of time celebrating what people create, learn and achieve. This World Mental Health Day (10 October), we want to give just as much attention to the people themselves.
To celebrate the occasion, Dr Chris Fremantle from Gray’s School of Art and Rosa Eisenberg from RGU’s School of Health organised a zine making workshop, bringing staff and students together to explore mental health and wellbeing through art and conversation.
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’, calls for people with lived experience of mental health conditions to have a genuine say in the decisions, services and support that affect their lives.
It’s an important consideration for all of us.
Our university community includes people who study, teach, care, create, research and keep things running. Each person brings their own experiences, circumstances and needs, many of which may never be visible to others.
We can offer kindness without expecting an explanation. We can respect someone’s privacy while making sure they know their views and choices are valued.
If there’s something we’d love you to take from today, it’s the habit of asking what someone needs rather than assuming we already know. Their answer might be different from what we expected, and they may prefer not to answer at all.
You deserve that same patience, dignity and consideration yourself.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the workshop and contributed to the zines. 🫶
Support is available
RGU students: Free, 24 hour mental health support on 0800 031 8227.
RGU staff: Confidential Employee Assistance Programme on 0800 169 1920.
Everyone: Samaritans offers free emotional support on 116 123, day or night.
For urgent medical help in Scotland, call NHS 24 on 111. If someone’s life is in immediate danger, call 999.
Nursing at RGU Physiotherapy at RGU Occupational Therapy at RGU DiagnosticRadiography@RGU Midwifery at RGU
Mental Health Foundation Jameel Arts & Health Lab NHS Grampian
