On World Mental Health Day, the College’s first Head of Student Wellbeing discusses imposter syndrome, the power of play, and why everyone needs space to talk.
As the self-described “face for mental health within the College”, Beau Roberts has a unique role. Appointed in 2022 as Darwin’s first ever Head of Student Wellbeing, she takes undisguised pleasure in overturning Darwin’s sense of itself as a temple to the cerebral, gleefully extolling the benefits to be gained from play, creativity, sand trays and cute animals.
And the response of students speaks for itself.
“Beau is doing an incredible job and is very empathetic and positive,” reads one recent feedback form. “I think if more people knew about the impact such conversations can have on their daily lives, even more people would use them.”
With a background in theatre, a degree in Philosophy and Drama, and a Master’s in Drama Therapy, Beau had previously worked in schools, as well as within the NHS supporting adult mental health, and is convinced that Drama Therapy touches on “a part of human-ness” that can’t be accessed by simple talking. Its creative elements provide space to process emotion in a way that is completely distinct from the way in which people live the rest of their lives. It also taps into a mischievous streak which enjoys playing with people’s prejudices.
“I kind of like that people doubt it’ll work, she says. “I think when I moved my sand tray up here there was even a level of doubt within Darwin of ‘what have they hired, who is this?!’ And I use the sand tray, I use all of this stuff, all the time, still now.”
Employed for two days a week, Beau does not take on long-term counselling commitments, though she admits some have “snuck through”. Instead she offers ad hoc wellbeing sessions to students struggling with any aspect of the non-academic side of life.
“If anybody needs any emotional assistance, any support, anything that the Deanery wouldn’t deal with. So any issues with feelings, relationships, supervisors – difficult, tricky things – that’s where I come in.”
Speaking to a stranger about their most personal problems doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but Beau sees it as part of her responsibility to ensure that all students know she is there for them.
“I think because we have such huge cultural diversity, sometimes I’m much more visible to some students than others. So that has been part of my role I think, putting the word out there that actually it’s ok, it’s confidential, nobody will know. So that’s one part of it, making sure that they have that space.”
As well as being the first port of call for Darwinians, Beau acts as a signpost to other services, directing students to the University counselling service and recommended therapists, as well as putting them in touch with the disabilities service for support with neurodiversity, ADHD or dyslexia. She also collaborates with student groups, from the DCSA to the May Ball committee, organising events or drop-in sessions, and making mental wellbeing a visible College concern.
Her role was introduced in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, in a time when concern about poor mental health was rising throughout the University and more widely. Beau was among the first wellbeing specialists to be employed by a College, but the others have rapidly followed suit, with a network of collegiate wellbeing staff now meeting regularly to compare notes.
“I think that we are all taking mental health more seriously, and we absolutely should be. I’ve been working in this field for 15 years now, mostly with children, and I think we were taking children’s mental health much more seriously and neglecting the adults. And actually this gap, this group that we work with, is lovely because you still have the ability to change how people think about mental health.”
After two years in post, the thing which has shocked her most is the prevalence of imposter syndrome among students.
“That was really shocking to me. I actually went to the Dean in the first couple of weeks to ask if anybody can get in by accident. And he wholeheartedly explained that no, they can’t, everyone’s earned their place. And that’s been really helpful, but when I first got here I didn’t know, because of the level of doubt that people have. Being in an institution this old and this important can make you feel a bit wobbly sometimes.”
The sense of belonging provided by the collegiate set-up is an important factor in addressing this, and Beau is proud, when attending inter-collegiate sessions, of being able to share Darwin’s approach.
“I enjoy being able to represent College in the wider University space, because we’re doing a lot. And they do take it seriously here. When I first met Duncan (Needham, the Dean) and Wendy (Godfrey, HR Manager) I could see straightaway that they believed in this slightly wild idea that I had. And it was really energising, the thought that I might be able to create something really new within a really old institution.”
It may be new, but Beau’s role has rapidly become central to the way Darwin operates. From an enormously successful visit from her ridiculously cuddly dog, to colouring sessions at the College’s first Families Day last summer, she ensures that she is visible and known to the community at large. But it is in the privacy of her confidential sessions that the real magic happens.
“I do a lot of one-to-one work which is really really special, and highlights happen all the time – glimmers of absolute life-changing stuff. And it’s not always about the academics; it’s about things that people have been struggling with for a long time and then it will all come unravelling in this space and then we build it back together. And that’s so powerful.”
With a background in theatre, a degree in Philosophy and Drama, and a Master’s in Drama Therapy, Beau had previously worked in schools, as well as within the NHS supporting adult mental health, and is convinced that Drama Therapy touches on “a part of human-ness” that can’t be accessed by simple talking. Its creative elements provide space to process emotion in a way that is completely distinct from the way in which people live the rest of their lives. It also taps into a mischievous streak which enjoys playing with people’s prejudices.
“I kind of like that people doubt it’ll work.”
