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Previous research has found university students report higher levels of psychological distress compared to the general population. Our aim was to investigate the degree to which personality and contextual factors predict psychological distress and well-being in students over the course of a semester. We also examined whether resilience-building skills, such as positive self-talk, mindfulness meditation and self-management, included in a first year psychology subject, might reduce distress and improve well-being. Undergraduate first year students (n = 150) completed a battery of questionnaires in week 3 (Time 1; n = 150) and week 10 (Time 2; n = 53) of semester. At both times students reported high levels of psychological distress, as measured by the K-10, the General Health Questionnaire and the Brief Symptom Inventory, and low levels of psychological well-being, as measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Students exposed to resilience-building skills embedded in a subject (n = 24) were no less distressed at Time 2 than those not enrolled in that subject (n = 29). The personality traits of emotional resilience (vs. reactivity) and bounce-back resilience measured at Time 1 were the only significant predictors of psychological distress and well-being measured at Time 2. Students with high emotional and bounce-back resilience had lower psychological distress and higher well-being scores. Future research could consider development and trial of a full semester university subject designed to improve students' resilience knowledge and skills.

An innovative teamwork training module was developed for business students as part of an Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) grant supporting the acquisition of generic skills. The module content was based on teamwork theory and research and was delivered in a one-off training session using action learning pedagogy that promoted team development and experiential learning. Initial student feedback indicates that this model of teamwork training has broader applications.

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Since "Courting the Blues" was published by Kelk, Luscombe, Medlow and Hickie in 2009, legal educators across Australia have been measuring psychological distress in law students, as well as implementing and evaluating strategies to support students' well-being. This paper reports on initiatives implemented at the Newcastle Law School in 2012 designed to reduce performance anxiety around a compulsory first year mooting assessment, and the implementation of a self-management curriculum underpinned by the fruits of research in self-determination theory in 2013, involving a partnership between legal academics and professional colleagues from the University Counselling Service. In particular, the paper will analyse the use of the My Journey transition resource, input on growth mindset, reflective practice, resilience training, and practical mindfulness as strategies to support well-being of law students.

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