The SUNMENTORS project, formally titled “Support for University Student Mental Health – Training for Teaching Staff,” is a collaborative initiative funded under the Erasmus+ programme. The project addresses the growing concern of student mental health issues within European higher education institutions.

SUNMENTORS is an initiative designed to improve mental health support for university students by equipping teaching staff with the necessary skills and knowledge. It acknowledges that student mental health, particularly conditions such as depression and anxiety, has become a pressing challenge across Europe. The project aims to create a more inclusive learning environment by empowering educators with strategies to support students effectively.

The main objectives of the project are to enhance the competency of university teaching staff in supporting students’ mental health and to promote inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive regardless of their psychological challenges. Another core aim is to develop educational resources, including a comprehensive training curriculum and a digital e-learning platform for professional development. Additionally, the project seeks to influence policy at the institutional and European levels by providing policy recommendations for long-term systemic change.

The target group of the SUNMENTORS project is university teaching staff, who play a critical role in supporting student well-being. Secondary groups include students dealing with mental health challenges, university counseling services, and administrative personnel involved in student support. Higher education policymakers and public education authorities are also considered key audiences, as the project aims to inspire broad institutional change.

The project is structured into five interconnected work packages where four of them are designed to achieve its objectives systematically. Each work package focuses on a critical aspect of the project’s success, ensuring a comprehensive approach to improving mental health support in higher education.

Good Practice-Exchange and Demand Analysis: aims to identify and exchange best practices in student mental health support across European universities. Partners will conduct workshops with both teaching staff and students to gather insights into existing challenges and support gaps. The findings will inform the design of a customized training curriculum, ensuring it is tailored to the real needs of educators.

Development of the Curriculum: involves the creation of a detailed training program to prepare teaching staff for better supporting students’ mental health. The curriculum will cover topics such as identifying early warning signs, setting boundaries, active listening, and referral techniques. It will be developed for both in-person and digital use and will undergo a pilot phase to test its effectiveness and relevance across different institutions.

Development of the E-learning Platform: centers on creating a digital platform to host the training curriculum developed in the previous work package. The platform will feature interactive modules, including video tutorials, quizzes, self-reflection exercises, and downloadable resources. Designed for flexible self-directed learning, it will ensure accessibility and engagement for a broad audience of university staff.

Student Mental Health Strategy Development and Policy Recommendations: aims to promote long-term institutional change by integrating the developed curriculum and e-learning platform into standard university practices. A policy recommendation paper will be developed to guide institutions and policymakers on how to create inclusive mental health strategies at the structural level.

The key deliverables of the SUNMENTORS project include a comprehensive curriculum for university teaching staff, an interactive e-learning platform for professional development, and a policy recommendation paper to support institutional and policy-level change. Additionally, the project will host workshops and stakeholder engagement events to encourage dialogue and adoption of the training tools across European institutions.

The long-term impact is expected to be significant. By enhancing mental health literacy among teaching staff and providing tools for institutional change, the project will contribute to more supportive learning environments across Europe. This initiative aims to reduce stigma, improve academic performance, and promote the well-being of students facing mental health challenges. With its focus on sustainability and policy influence, SUNMENTORS seeks to make a lasting contribution to the European higher education landscape.