Led by Associate Professor Matthew Grech-Sollars and Research Fellow Maitrei Kohli, the Mindful Conversations seminar series began as a UCL Computer Science initiative to support staff and PhD students with mental health challenges.
What started as a single seminar has grown into a model for fostering open conversations, tackling topics from impostor syndrome to rejection, and embedding wellbeing into academic culture.
Their journey offers five practical lessons for building a more open and supportive culture.
1. Start small and test interest
The idea began with a single seminar on Impostor Syndrome, attended by nearly 60 people from across the department. In addition to the seminar we included a free lunch with space for discussions before the seminar. The feedback confirmed a strong appetite for structured discussions about topics that impact our mental health.
We realised there wasn’t enough support for staff and students to talk about topics that are particularly relevant in an academic setting and impact our mental health. The first session showed how valuable it could be.
2. Choose topics that resonate across roles
The team built the series around challenges that affect everyone in academia:
- Navigating toxic work relationships
- Managing anxiety and uncertainty
- Dealing with rejection and giving constructive feedback
Two sessions were delivered by Natalie Snodgrass of Quiet Space Coaching, while the final seminar featured a panel of UCL colleagues, sharing their own experiences and strategies.
“Topics were chosen based on feedback and an awareness of challenges that people face within academia, regardless of what role they’re in. We found that by choosing topics that resonate across professional services, academics, post-docs and PhD students we were able to engage the whole community."
3. Create safe, practical spaces
Psychological safety was a priority for every session:
- In person meetings to create safer spaces, and encourage participation
One hour for a free lunch before the seminar to create familiarity amongst participants and initiate conversations
No audience photos, to protect confidentiality
- Practical strategies shared at each event, from reframing rejection to handling difficult relationships
- Time for reflection and discussion, ensuring participants felt supported and heard.
“People left with practical tools and, more importantly, a sense they weren’t alone. Being able to talk about common issues and normalise discussion is critical for us to improve the department culture around mental health.”
4. Build momentum and embed the culture
Positive feedback and departmental survey responses showed the series was making a difference. Attendees valued the actionable advice and the opportunity to share experiences in a supportive environment.
The Mental Health Working Group now plans to expand the series with new topics, guided by feedback from a recent Department culture survey, and aligned with UCL’s Grand Challenges on Mental Health & Wellbeing, with the aim of embedding long-term cultural change.
“You don’t need a huge budget – the most important thing was the support from the Department to start the conversation, and listening to the feedback from those attending."
5. Share and amplify the impact
Raising awareness beyond the department reinforces the cultural shift and inspires others to follow suit. The team has:
- Shared session updates and insights on social media to reach external audiences
- Developed a Mental Health Working Group webpage to host resources and recordings.
Social media often portrays the most beautiful picture, creating a distorted view of what success looks like. The reality is that there are various issues impacting us as individuals on our paths in academia. By sharing these discussions we can understand and support each other better, creating a more pleasant place to work in.
Further information
Mindful Conversations is part of UCL Computer Science’s commitment to a positive, inclusive research culture.
Explore more about our Mental Health initiatives on the UCL Computer Science website or get in touch with Matt and Maitrei.
