December 2024
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This conference examined next steps for improving student mental health in universities.
It brought together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities for student mental health support in HEIs and how to improve existing provision moving forward.
Sessions in the agenda examined the direction of policy under the new Government following the target for all HEIs to have signed up to the University Mental Health Charter Programme by September 2024. Implementation of the renewed MHCP was considered, alongside key areas for research and the way forward for collaboration and sharing best practice to improve mental health at a university and UK-wide level. We also expected discussion on implications for HEIs of provisions in the Mental Health Bill, including giving increased rights and autonomy to users of mental health services.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Jane Harris, Chair, Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Expert Group; Dr Omar Khan, CEO, Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education; Yeme Onoabhagbe, Interim CEO, Student Minds; Nicola Turner, Senior Fair Access Adviser, UCAS; and Dr Emma Roberts, Head, Law, University of Salford.
Alongside looking at initiatives in individual universities, delegates assessed progress made by the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce. They also examined key areas for improvement in the context of additional funding, guidance and support being rolled out across the HE sector, and the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health.
The conference brought out latest thinking on addressing factors leading to the rise in mental health conditions among young people in HEIs, including workload pressures, online harms, financial stresses and the aftermath of the pandemic. Discussion explored the potential effects on mental health in HEIs following the Government’s inflation-linked increase of tuition fees and maintenance loans from next year, with a recent Save the Students survey showing 60% of university students reporting that money worries had impacted their mental health. Sessions also explored strategies for supporting the transition into HE, including providing students with the necessary skills to adjust to the new environment.
Delegates considered how variation in the quality of mental health service provision in HEIs can be addressed. They examined best practice in how HE providers are embedding mental health support strategies into their governance structures, including processes for identifying those at risk, providing tailored interventions, and best practice in compassionate communication and case management.
In examining the case for a statutory duty of care for HE students, delegates considered potential implications, looking at strategies for increasing guidance and training for non-specialist staff, and improving information sharing between educational settings, agencies and support services.
There was also a focus on effective partnerships between HEIs, local services and health providers, with latest thinking on practicalities of collaboration and data sharing, and how to further improve multi-agency coordination.
We expected further discussionson on the future direction of policy to improve mental health support, including evaluation of existing frameworks such as Student Minds’ Student Space support service, and Universities UK’s Suicide-Safer Universities programme, alongside closer working between HEIs and the NHS.
Areas for discussion in the agenda included:
- implementing the Mental Health Charter: progress towards targets for HEI participation - challenges in adopting a whole-university approach - benefits and impact of the Charter Programme
- taskforce priorities: findings from the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce - next steps for enhancing mental health and suicide prevention - implications for HE providers
- suicide prevention strategies: developing guidance to restrict access to means - integrating new policies into university settings - addressing online harms and digital access
- information sharing: overcoming barriers between schools, colleges and universities - exploring methods for data sharing - balancing student privacy with support needs
- funding and resources: allocation and impact of government funding - supporting transitions from school to university - expanding counselling and mental health services
- staff training: enhancing guidance and training for non-specialist staff - promoting mental health awareness among faculty - standardising training practices across the sector
- duty of care: examining the potential for a statutory duty of care - implications for HE providers and students - learning from recent high-profile cases
- embedding support strategies: integrating mental health into university governance - identifying at-risk students - implementing tailored interventions and compassionate communications
- collaboration and partnerships: improving multi-agency coordination - building effective partnerships with local services and health providers - practicalities of collaboration and data sharing
- evaluating existing frameworks: assessing Student Space, Suicide Safer Universities, and NHS-HEI mental health partnerships - identifying areas for improvement - future policy directions
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include officials from DHSC; DfE; DAERA, NI; DftE, NI, DoH, NI; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
