Quick summary: The International Humanitarian College London has launched a free six-hour course on mental health and well-being, aimed at anyone seeking practical guidance on supporting themselves and others at a time when mental ill-health among students and teachers in the UK has risen sharply. The proportion of university students in England disclosing a mental health condition grew from under 1% in 2010/11 to 5.8% in 2022/23, while the share of teachers reporting long-lasting mental health problems increased from around 1% in the late 1990s to approximately 5% by 2018. The course, which requires no prior qualifications, is designed to address a practical literacy gap in education and the workplace, and its free availability reflects wider concerns about overstretched support services and the need for accessible, evidence-informed resources.
The International Humanitarian College London (IHCL) has launched a free micro-course titled Mental Health and Wellbeing: Support Yourself and Others to coincide with Mental Health Awareness month. The course takes approximately six hours to complete and is open to anyone, with no prior qualifications required.
The initiative addresses a growing gap in practical mental health literacy across education, the workplace, and everyday life. Groups in education, including students and teachers, are among those most acutely affected by rising rates of mental ill-health in the UK and globally.
“Mental health has never been more central to how we live, work, and lead,” said Dr Rod Brazier, MD and co-founder of IHCL. “We are making this course free because we want it to reach as many people as possible, individuals, families, teachers, employers, and anyone who wants to better support those around them. Mental health awareness month feels like exactly the right moment to act.”
Recent data illustrates the scale of the challenge. The proportion of university students in England disclosing a mental health condition rose from under 1% in 2010/11 to 5.8% in 2022/23, with surveys showing substantial increases in self-reported anxiety and depression over the past decade. Among teachers, the share reporting long-lasting mental health problems grew from around 1% in the late 1990s to approximately 5% by 2018. More recent well-being indices show the pressures have continued, with over a third of education staff in some surveys showing signs linked to probable clinical depression and workplace culture frequently cited as a negative factor.
The course is practical and immediately applicable, offering guidance on managing personal well-being and recognising signs of distress in colleagues, students, friends, and family. IHCL is encouraging individuals, charities, educational institutions, and employers to share details of the course widely, citing the strain on existing mental health support services as a reason to remove financial barriers to evidence-informed guidance.
IHCL was co-founded in 2025 by Dr Serhii Kosianenko (CEO) and Dr Rod Brazier, following two years of preparatory work. The college holds educational licences in both the UK and Ukraine and offers accredited Master’s programmes alongside professional short courses. Its teaching model, Adaptive Chunked Experiential Learning (ACEL), blends interactive methods with classical British academic traditions.
