Thanks for stopping by! My name is Sylvia, a HAPHE Ambassador. In the Autumn of 2021, between classes and grabbing pizza, a friend and I found ourselves chatting about our mental health; hers, mine, and pretty much everyone we knew. Spoiler alert: things weren’t great. But important conversations slip into the background. Bits hang in the air. Friends, exams, parties; they came and went, and honestly, so did our conversation on our determination to do something about "it" . At the beginning of second year, I randomly came across the HAPHE Café team - they visited a university near ours; University of Bath. Guess what? I decided to join their team as an ambassador at my university. I just thought they were cool, crazy, I wasn't thinking. But as time went on, their message “diversify your emotional investment” really started to click for me. I started actually doing the stuff I was talking about. I tried out new hobbies - not just one, I got closer to some friends - not just one, and I even picked up two extra vocational courses, even though accountancy was my goal. I was diversifying. And guess what? It actually worked. I didn't know it at the time but my emotional energy was no longer singularly invested in single aspects of life. If you had asked whether or not I thought I was getting mentally tougher I would have wondered what you were talking about. It was a year later when my long-time boyfriend dumped me, then it dawned on me. Before HAPHE, the breakup would’ve sent me into a spiral. Now, I noticed the "bounce back". Some might have said I'd become more resilient. It took me a long time to own up to that myself. But when I did start noticing, It became my mission to tell everyone about HAPHE. As more of us start spreading the word about the importance of diversifying our emotional investments, there have been changes. The real question is: what’s next? This is just the beginning, and more students need to hear this message and understand how to build those diverse emotional connections. Let’s keep raising awareness and showing everyone how to strengthen their mental resilience. Join us and be part of the change. Together, we’ve got this. So stay safe, and keep your connections healthy.
'The ONE' TRAP
Campaign 2025
Singular Disappointment Linked to Trauma Rate Hike ( fr19th December)
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Taking off on Tik Tok as well as Instagram from the 19th of December! If you support mental health, especially trauma and anxiety prevention. Join the Campaign in your University
Start here. With just one post. Amplify 'THE ONE' TRAP across your University. Impact awards, Credits, Leadership and more!
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Over 1,200 Students Signed - Prevention is Everything
The first three Open Mic Nights were a bit tricky. Each campus had its own vibe, and the teams were still figuring out a format. Brilliant creative showcases, yes, but we hadn’t quite found our rhythm. That changed by number four. At the University of Nottingham, something clicked. The format took shape. Open Mic Nights became more than performances; they became acts of balance. Each event was punctuated by reflective interludes: short, intentional moments where we spoke openly about the emotional cost of over-investment — in dreams, relationships, outcomes, or even identities that didn’t unfold as we’d hoped. It was moving to hear students say, “These pauses aren’t interruptions… they’re the heartbeat of HAPHE.” In the middle of the music, poetry, or stand-up, we made space for something quieter but just as vital: emotional sustainability. Nottingham Trent, the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, and Aston University followed. And the rest? That was history. We call these reflective moments 3-Minute Self-Portraits — honest snapshots from students who’ve learned, often the hard way, that pouring everything into just one thing can leave you empty. A dream career that didn’t pan out. A relationship that defined too much. A role they couldn’t sustain. These stories help others see what balance truly looks like in practice. Open Mic Nights are how we gather, how we witness each other, and how we remind ourselves: You are more than the one thing you lost. You are worth more than the single identity you’re clinging to. You can start again with balance.
"Preventing trauma with 56 HAPHE Cafés ... Every single one felt like a breakthrough...
I Invite You To Host One"
— James Ncube, BA Philosophy & Wellbeing, University of Birmingham
This year university teams are doing much more because prevention can be a deficit reducer. And sometimes, it just starts with showing up.
Join the movement at your University or College! If you are passionate about mental health, particularly prevention, like we are and would like to make a difference! Get leadership experience. Recognition and impact grants.
74% of students said they tied happiness to one thing... when that thing was taken away, they fell into ... emotional decline'.
According to the study of 823 students across the UK and US
The question we ask our self at HAPHE is, if one loss can led to debilitating breakdown, in 74% of students. How can we prevent such impact ? Each event, initiative and campaign is your contribution and answer to that question.
If mental health and prevention is something you care about, Join us; create impact!
The 800 Student Study
I Had the Courage to Write It Because I Could Be Anonymous
My story was just one of the first 800 shared with HAPHE. Writing it down gave me language for something I had been carrying alone.
Today, I think every student deserves a place to share safely — without pressure, without judgement, without names.
If there’s something you’ve been trying to make sense of, this might be the first step. Every anonymous story helps someone else feel less alone. And maybe… it helps you breathe again too.
What Makes Us Happy Changes, Be Ready To Change With It
Courtney Wenner (HAPHE Volunteer)
Gather around as I take you back through time and space to that bygone era of 2008 or the year the whole world went bananas, and the markets crashed. The Greeks couldn’t afford to retire, there were runs on banks (like It’s a Wonderful Life), and the term too big to fail entered the lexicon.
Why was this year significant beyond the historical context? It marked my university graduation. This wasn’t just any graduation – I was the first in my family to attend university. Coming from a single-parent, working-class background where money was always tight, there was no financial safety net. If funds ran out, it meant
surviving on stale bread for breakfast, lunch
PrimeStudents
HAPHE is excited to announce it's collaboration with Amazon Student, offering a six-month trial packed with fantastic benefits to enhance your student life. As a HAPHE ambassador, you're invited to experience: Unlimited One-Day Delivery on countless items, perfect for all your student essentials. Unlimited streaming access with Prime Video – thousands of TV shows and movies at your fingertips. Dive into a musical world with Prime Music, offering over a million songs and hundreds of ad-free playlists. Exclusive student discounts on select textbooks and the chance to participate in unique prize draws. Never worry about photo storage again with unlimited space courtesy of Prime Photos. Get early access to Amazon's Lightning Deals – perfect for snagging those student bargains. Each month, choose a Kindle book to borrow from a selection of over a million titles in the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. This partnership is just another way HAPHE is committed to enhancing your university experience, both academically and in everyday life." *Note: Specifics of the Amazon Student trial should be confirmed with Amazon to ensure accurate representation of their offer.
However...
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or feeling suicidal in the UK, please seek immediate help.
OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS WHO BELIEVE ONE PERSON'S STORY CAN HELP ANOTHER PERSON.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our corporate sponsors for their unwavering support.
Your belief in our mission to prioritize prevention by listening to stories and self portraits has been instrumental in driving positive change and making a lasting impact on the mental health crisis faced by young people.
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Would you like your employer to sponsor a HAPHE Cafe at a designated University for a term, A semester or even the whole year!
Find out what it means to be a Corporate sponsor and the impact you'll have.
* Our Well-being Ambassadors!
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“The World Health Organization has named depression the number one cause of disability in the world,”
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Research has shown that anxiety and trauma led depressions are rising faster
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Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide
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Reserach has shown that trauma led depression is rising
* Source: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Just thought we'd tell you that we have you in mind while you have mental well-being in mind
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Receive an induction and supervision
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Get a reference
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We encourage LinkedIn peer endorsements
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Join a Movement.
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Meet new people from the comfort of your home
We can't wait to hear from you !
ARE YOU A STUDENT WORKING ON RESEARCH ?
WE WANT TO PROMOTE YOU ...
Making a difference in young people’s lives - preventing escalating rates of depression comes in many guises and you could play a part. We would like to acknowledge not just your work but you.
If your work - Any discipline involving young people or a person; maybe loss or emotional trauma... We would love for people to hear about you and your work!
SO... WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HAPHE?
Want to stay in touch? Why not join 'What's Happening at HAPHE'
Because we know children learn by exploring as well as experimenting and asking questions, we've designed tools and activities that are both fun and educational. However, we have a very defined mission.
At the core of HAPHE Fun days is helping children develope a healthy well-being by learning how to make balanced connections with their world. Now more than any time in the last hundred years, the presence of these skills prevents trauma and anxiety-led depression in later years.
The HAPHE Funday children stay motivated and engaged in a life long journey of planning of making deliberate connections
This is a great event for either the whole school or individual grade levels that have multiple classrooms.
If you would like a HAPHE team to come to your school or your class, let us know. We'd be happy to.