Surviving and Thriving in Times of Rapid Change: Multiple Tertiary Teaching Voices from Aotearoa, New Zealand

Mental health issues are common in tertiary education all over the world. Research shows that psycho-emotional well-being of tertiary students have a significant influence on their academic performance. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to respond to constant changes at a rapid rate, have intensified depression, stress and anxiety. Difficulties adjusting to the new COVID-19 tertiary studying environment, a sense of isolation, academic anxiety and the struggles of balancing work-study commitments are cited as common triggers for stress.

Members of this panel will share key findings from three research projects from Auckland, New Zealand, which captured the psycho-emotional health and well-being of tertiary students as they manoeuvred the uncertain landscape of tertiary education influx due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel speakers will discuss the challenges faced by both students and lecturers and how this has impacted on both the students' learning and their mental health and well-being. In addition, they will propose some recommendations for the tertiary learning sector as we move forward and adjust to new COVID-19 landscapes in tertiary education.


Recovery-Oriented Practice in Mental Health: Creating Safe Spaces in Practice & Enhancing Learning

Bernadette Solomon, School of Nursing and Health, Manukau Institute of Technology, New Zealand

This panel speaker will present and discuss the findings of a study aimed to explore the experience and meaning of recovery-oriented practice for 10 nurses working in an acute mental health service. A phenomenological and hermeneutic lens was used to explore the nurses’ experience of working in a recovery-focused manner with service users in the inpatient setting (Solomon, Sutton & McKenna 2021). The findings revealed that recovery-orientated practice is a challenge for nurses working within acute mental health wards. Although the experience and meaning of recovery-focused care varied from nurse to nurse, there were some common elements in the practice accounts. The accounts revealed the nurses’ role in creating different therapeutic spaces to promote safety, relational commitment and healing for service users. However, the nurses faced challenges to recovery-oriented care, within the team culture and the broader service systems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings have implications for nursing practice, especially within an education context for novice nurses and the education of student nurses in a tertiary teaching-learning environment.


Restoring Hope – Addressing and Responding to the Mental and Well-being of Tertiary Students in Aotearoa New Zealand

Melanie Wong, School of Social Work, Manukau Institute of Technology, New Zealand
Tino Taliaoa, School of Social Work, Manukau Institute of Technology, New Zealand

These panel speakers will speak on and discuss the findings of a research project focused on exploring mental health issues of social work degree students. The preliminary findings indicated that many students had experienced mental health issues; they had expressed the expectation that they would be supported in a ‘safe space’ for them to feel they belong and that they can open up about heavy things on their heart/mind. Initial findings suggest that cultural components are missing in mental health conversation. Anxiety from studying can affect students’ mental health and emotional well-being. In addition, many students have other commitments on top of their studies. This along with the pressure of fulfilling their roles in their families and society has created stress and tension. This presentation will discuss some research findings which will inform strategies to address the mental health needs of undergraduate students enrolled in the social work undergraduate programme.


Reflection as a Tool for Improving Online Teaching and Learning Practices

Kaberi Rajendra, School of Health and Counselling, Manukau Institute of Technology, New Zealand

The final panellist will present and discuss the findings of a study aimed at exploring the experience and meaning of recovery-oriented practice for 10 nurses working in an acute mental health service. A phenomenological and hermeneutic lens was used to explore the nurses’ experience of working in a recovery-focused manner with service users in the inpatient setting (Solomon, Sutton & McKenna 2021). The findings revealed that recovery-orientated practice is a challenge for nurses working within acute mental health wards. Although the experience and meaning of recovery-focused care varied from nurse to nurse, there were some common elements in the practice accounts. The accounts revealed the nurses’ role in creating different therapeutic spaces to promote safety, relational commitment and healing for service users. However, the nurses faced challenges to recovery-oriented care, within the team culture and the broader service systems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings have implications for nursing practice, especially within an education context for novice nurses and the education of student nurses in a tertiary teaching-learning environment.

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Posted by IAFOR