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10/18/2017 It's time for universities to put student mental health support first | Jon Wakeford | Higher Education

her Education Network | The Guardian

It's time for universities to put student mental


health rst
Moving to university is hard. Universities need to support students through the transition with the right
mental health services

Jon Wakeford is director of strategy and communications at UPP, a student accommodation provider

Jon Wakeford
Thursday 7 September 2017 11.44BST

O ver half a million people are preparing to make the transition to student life, now that the
new academic year is upon us. Prospective students will be full of excitement, but for many
it will also be a testing time. Universities already have plenty of initiatives to support their
students in place but they could be strengthened through a transition strategy that prioritises
mental health and wellbeing.

With higher study costs and increasingly competitive job markets, there is greater pressure than
ever on this years new cohort of students. Our annual Student Experience survey shows that
almost nine in 10 (87%) of rst year students nd it dicult to cope with social or academic
aspects of university life. Students are unsure of what to expect, and a large proportion say that

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10/18/2017 It's time for universities to put student mental health support first | Jon Wakeford | Higher Education Network | The Guardian

the transition from school to university is a source of considerable stress. The stress of studying is
a key area in which students struggle, with almost six in 10 reporting that this made it dicult for
them to cope. Other troubles that featured signicantly included isolation (44%), balancing work
and study (37%), nancial diculties (36%) and living independently (22%).

When we dig deeper into the data on coping with the transition to university, there is a notable
gender imbalance. Female students nd it particularly dicult to cope, with 91% reporting to
have struggled with one or more of the above issues, compared to 82% of male students.

The stigma around mental health has thankfully diminished in recent years, which has perhaps
led to higher rates of reporting. New Institute for Public Policy Research analysis found nearly ve
times as many students as 10 years ago disclosed a mental health condition to their university.
This means demand for university mental health services is growing, and institutions will have to
ensure they are equipped to deal with it.

Now is the time for universities to assess how the growing demand for mental health services can
be met. The recent publication of Universities UK framework on mental health has highlighted
the need for student mental health to be a strategic priority, embedded across all university
activities. While the eorts made so far are considerable, mental health and wellbeing services in
universities have for too long been seen as an add-on. Students must feel they are supported
through the transitions and milestones of university life in a holistic way. There are many
instances of best practice across the sector, but the requirement for collaboration cannot be
understated.

Our own teams in student accommodation are trained to understand the pressures students face
and recognise the signs of isolation, anxiety and depression to ensure that either we and/or the
university can intervene, when required. We tested the eectiveness of this approach through a
pilot project at Nottingham Trent, which resulted in a student mental health guidance pack (pdf)
published earlier this year. The project underscored the need for collaboration and auditing
across sectors; to improve the level of understanding about mental health across the whole
university community, including accommodation teams; and to embed a sustainable and
resourced strategic approach.

One policy initiative I would like to throw into the mix would see more universities adopt the
formalisation of a pro vice-chancellor for transition. Were this more widespread, it could provide
a still greater focus on guiding new students through the challenges of independent study and
living.

Now that we have a framework that provides a step change in how universities can approach
mental health provision, we should grab it with both hands. A more joined-up approach between
the academic and social/residential elements of university is essential to this. While signposting
of existing services must be improved, a wider understanding of the pressures students face is
vital if we are to ensure that mental health provision meets their growing needs.

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10/18/2017 It's time for universities to put student mental health support first | Jon Wakeford | Higher Education Network | The Guardian

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Topics
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Mental health: a university crisis
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