What we offer

Mental health awareness within the Department of Earth Science and Engineering (ESE) comprises Anita Murphy, our designated Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisor and Disability Officer, the Mental Health Awareness Team (MHAT) and mental health first aiders.

We encourage you to speak directly to Anita Murphy in the first instance about any mental health-related queries or needs, or to the MHAT member most closely associated with your role, who have specialised knowledge in particular areas of the department.

Orange sunrise behind grey cloudMental Health Awareness Team Chair (Anita Murphy)

The MHAT Chair is supported by the Head of Department regarding initiatives to improve the departmental culture surrounding mental health, and to suggest changes in the way mental health response is implemented.

The Chair is also the designated Earth Science and Engineering Mental Health Champion, representing the department at faculty or college level for all things related to mental health and mental health policy.

Members of the Mental Health Awareness Team

The ESE Mental Health Awareness Team (MHAT) will be able to listen to your concerns and provide you with information about options for further help. 

However, depending on your role within the department you might benefit from contacting the below persons first. The benefit is that they might be better placed to advise you for your particular circumstances. However, all MHAT members are happy to talk to those in the Department of Earth Science & Engineering regardless of your role.

  • Undergraduate students: Students experiencing difficulties are welcome to first contact either their Personal Tutor or the Senior Tutor.
  • PhD students: PhD students have a range of choices when it comes to first contact. They can talk to their direct supervisors, to Amanda Allotey, or to Anita Murphy.
  • All students: All students are welcome to contact the Student Counselling and Mental Health Advice Service. This is a free and confidential service.
  • Members of staff: Staff can talk to Anita Murphy, their line managers, to the Occupational Health counselling services within HR, or call Confidential Care (0800 085 4764) directly. Confidential Care is a service provided by Imperial free of charge to staff.

Mental Health First Aiders

In addition to the MHAT, the Department has a number of trained mental health first aiders, which includes all fieldtrip leaders and many other members of staff. Anyone is welcome to approach these trained staff to find out more about the university provisions for mental health. More information about Imperial's mental health aiders can be found here.

If I contact someone in ESE, will it be anonymous?

Mental Health first aiders are not counsellors; they are there to listen to you and guide you to the best available help. As such, they will work with you to find where that help may be. They will ask you if you are happy for them to discuss your case with the appropriate university services, or can provide you with information to make contact with them directly.

However, if you are clearly in danger of harming yourself or others, the first aider will have a duty of care that requires them to talk about your case to a third party. So you can be sure that your information will be treated sensitively, MHAT members and mental health first aiders are required to share information in serious cases.

Additional resources

ESE Health and Safety

Due to the complex mix of risks within the department, finding out what procedures to follow and how to apply them can be a little daunting. 

Visit the ESE Health and Safety guidance pages.

ESE Fieldwork Information