Supporting your mental fitness for optimal learning
Sunday 10 October marks World Mental Health Day, an international opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues and advocate for mental health support.
We have witnessed a global recognition of the importance of good mental health in recent years. Great strides have been made in reducing the stigma around mental health, but many people still feel uncomfortable talking about their feelings, which suggests that there is still more work to be done.
In the lead up to this year’s World Mental Health Day, ICAS is highlighting the resources we have put in place as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our Students.
What resources are available to CA Students?
The ICAS Mental Fitness Pledge – Health Minds Start Here – which launched in May 2021, is a long-term commitment to educate, support and lead on mental health. As part of this pledge, we have introduced the CA Wellbeing hub, with a ‘CA Student resources’ section dedicated to providing information and access to mental wellbeing assistance.
With the aim of adding a tangible service to our wellbeing offering, ICAS has recently launched a new Student Assistance Programme. The programme consists of a suite of wellbeing services offering support for all CA Students, provided by Health Assured. This is a confidential service designed to help Students deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life, work life, health and general wellbeing.
As well as a 24-hour helpline and access to the ‘My Healthy Advantage’ app, which provides a range of features aimed at improving health and wellbeing, the programme also offers an online ‘Wellbeing Portal’. The portal is a virtual library of wellbeing information. The articles and self-help guides provide support on a range of health and advisory issues, as well as instant guidance to aid your physical and mental health. BrightTV – an exclusive series featuring well-known figures sharing their personal experiences with mental health – is another useful feature of the portal.
Accessing the Student Assistance Programme
24-hour helpline:
Call 0800 028 3766 and quote 'ICAS' as your institution.
You will be asked for some initial details as well as questions about what your call relates to in order to get you access to the right support. The service is confidential and any information you provide will not be shared with ICAS or your Firm.
My Healthy Advantage app:
Available for iOS and Android devices, you can access My Healthy Advantage with the following login credentials:
Use the unique code: MHA190553
Read more about the My Healthy Advantage app
Wellbeing Portal:
Use these login credentials to access the Wellbeing Portal:
Username: Wellbeing
Password: DeskGrowMind1
Support to maintain your mental fitness for optimal learning
The UK Mental Health Foundation states that “good mental health is characterised by a person’s ability to fulfil a number of key functions and activities, including the ability to learn”.
This stresses the importance of maintaining good mental health as you study towards your CA qualification with ICAS.
Here are some of the resources in place as part of our Student Assistance Programme which can help you cultivate and preserve your mental fitness:
- Avoiding burnout: Formally recognised by the WHO and added to the International Classification of Diseases in 2020, burnout is a serious condition that results from too much stress. This article outlines the tell-tale signs of burnout, as well as how to avoid burning out.
- Sleep: A lack of sleep increases the risk of serious medical conditions and depression, as well as affecting our ability to communicate. This article explains how healthy sleeping habits can make a positive impact on your quality of life.
- Anxiety: Anxiety is a normal response to stress or danger. This article describes the symptoms associated with anxiety and panic attacks so that you can recognise them and seek treatment options.
The portal also offers webinars covering a variety of topics, such as social media and mental health, coping with change, mindfulness, and work-life balance.
If you have any questions about the Student Assistance Programme or any of our other mental wellbeing resources, please contact us.