Further support
I'm feeling suicidal / I'm worried about someone who might be suicidal.
The Occupational Health team provides confidential advice for keeping healthy at work.
Our Spectrum Life Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) gives wellbeing support 24/7, 365 days a year.
If you can't find what you're looking for here or in our Index, please email us.
Sleep
Read stories shared by your colleagues about their experience of sleep here.
Many of us struggle to have a good night's sleep every night so if this is you don't feel alone.
If you or someone you know is experiencing poor sleep, please refer to the support options below.
Spectrum Life
- Spectrum Life is our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is a confidential, neutral service provided by an external company to support colleagues at the University.
Occupational Health
- If your sleep problems are affecting work, it can help to talk to your manager who can refer you to Occupational Health for support. Alternatively, you can make a self-referral direct to the Occupational Health Team.
Mindfulness
- Free internal mindfulness sessions are available for colleagues.
Other University resources
- Taking good care of ourselves can really help us to stay mentally well. Take a look at the ‘Self-care and staying well’ section for resources and advice.
- Mindfulness practice audio recordings
- A study co-authored by Dr David Plans, from the Business School, shows going to sleep between 10 and 11pm is linked to lowered risk of heart disease, featured in many places this week including Washington Post, FOX News, The Guardian and ITV.com.
- Body clock article (University of Exeter)
- The University of Exeter library has an in-person and online wellbeing section you can access.
External support
- Short Stories for Stressed Grown-Ups is a podcast series by Devon-based writer Neil Bebber. The series is part bedtime story, part meditation and has been created specifically to help people relax and get a good night's sleep.
- Free sleep apps available can be found here.
- NHS sleep advice
- TALKWORKS For Improving Sleep workshop is a free CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) session open to anyone over 18 who is living in Devon (with the exception of Plymouth).
- The Access to Work Mental Health Support - a confidential service delivered by Remploy funded by the Department of Works and Pensions is available at no charge to any employees with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work.
- NHS Talking Therapies (previously called IAPT)- an NHS support you can refer yourself directly to for talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies and guided self-help.
- It can be helpful to go through one of Mind’s ‘Wellness Action Plans’ (workplace, remote and hybrid) with your manager so you can both explore how they can support you more with your wellbeing. They also offer a managers support guide.
- Matt Walker: 6 tips for better sleep | TED Talk
- You could also try setting a bedtime schedule notification on your phone.