About

At Queen's College, University of Oxford, the Junior Common Room (JCR) committee faced the challenge of low engagement with existing mental health resources despite high levels of student stress. With demanding term schedules and intense academic expectations, the committee recognised the need for a different, more modern approach to student mental fitness.

This case study outlines how a student-led initiative transformed mental health support at one of the world's oldest and most prestigious universities, creating a model that's now being adopted across multiple UK higher education institutions.

The Challenge

At Queen's College, University of Oxford, the Junior Common Room (JCR) committee was facing a familiar problem in university settings—low engagement with existing mental health resources despite high levels of student stress.

"We had a meditation app that only a few people were using," explains JCR President Freddie Simpson. "Meanwhile, students were struggling with exam pressure and academic stress but weren't connecting with the resources available to them."

With demanding term schedules and intense academic expectations, Simpson and fellow committee members Lily Karia Briggs and Isabelle Dickinson recognised the need for a different, more modern approach to student mental fitness.

The Student-Led Solution

The JCR committee discovered Leafyard and implemented it as a personal gift to their College community—a gesture that resonated deeply with students.

Students immediately noticed this wasn't a typical institutional wellness initiative, but something chosen specifically with their needs in mind.

The response was remarkable. Within weeks, 62 students were actively engaging with the platform. Even more impressively, they continue to use it— with 70% continued engagement overall and 41% serial engagement (users logging in weekly).

Real Results in Students' Own Words

Students began sharing their experiences across campus:

Student Testimonials

The platform's evidence-based approach struck a chord with academically-minded Oxford students:

One student connected Leafyard to concepts from their reading:

Others appreciated how Leafyard helped them set boundaries during intensive study periods:

For many, it complemented their existing coping strategies in a high-pressure environment. As one student poignantly observed:

The Impact

Within just a few weeks, students reported significant improvements across all well-being metrics:

Well-being Improvements

Engagement Metrics

A New Chapter in Student Support

From a community that was paying for unused wellness apps to one enthusiastically engaging with mental fitness resources, Queen's College Oxford has pioneered a new approach to student wellbeing—one led by students themselves.

As President Freddie Simpson and the JCR committee have shown, sometimes the most effective mental fitness solutions come from students who understand exactly what their peers need during the challenging university experience.

With five other major UK universities now implementing similar Leafyard programmes, Queen's College's student-led initiative has become a model for how universities can better support student mental fitness nationwide.