Students enrolled in mental health care programmes, such as mental health nursing, psychology, and counselling, are preparing for careers that require emotional resilience, empathy, and the ability to support others in distress. However, these students often encounter high levels of stress, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, intensified by academic pressures, demanding clinical placements, and exposure to complex psychological challenges. Despite their education and training in mental health, they may struggle to prioritise their own mental wellbeing, and current university support systems often fall short in addressing their unique needs.

This keynote will explore the critical need for a sustainable, proactive structured approach to supporting these students’ mental wellbeing. Drawing from the author’s own research and evidence-based practices it examines the challenges and opportunities for a potential roadmap for universities to foster resilience, self-care, and long-term mental wellbeing among future professionals.