The invisible problem? Improving students’ mental health

The MWBHE/UUK report notes 54 per cent of universities had
a formal mental health policy in place by 2008 and a further 29
per cent had begun developing one, with many implementing
programmes and training initiatives for students and staff.
Moreover, universities increasingly have other more inclusive
policies that aim to ensure full and equal support to any student
at any sort of difficult time. Such policies include Fitness to
Study and Mitigating Circumstances policies.
University case studies
The University of Westminster have a mentoring
programme for those with long-term mental health
problems. It is staffed by professional counsellors and funded
mainly by widening participation money. It helps students:
integrate into the university and into their courses; find
their way around the university systems; and manage their
workloads and devise more effective study strategies. The
mentors play a more active role than a typical counsellor.
They may communicate with tutors and take students to
see careers advisors. 66
Imperial College London provide accredited mental health
first aid training. The college has 30 mental health first aiders.
The training helps not only recognition of students at risk of
self-harm, but also shows staff the best ways of dealing with
such situations and helping students access the necessary
support in the most efficient way. 67
www.hepi.ac.uk 35