Supporting Student Mental Wellbeing: Policy, Practice and Future DirectionsFebruary 2015

Professor Steve WestVice-Chancellor UWE BristolChair University AlliancePresident Business WestChair CBI South WestChair West of England Academic Health Science Network

Why is this important for HE?• 1 in 6 adults have a

mental health problem at any one time

• Referrals and applications to university well-being services increased between 25 and 37% in a year

Demand at UWE BristolIn 2013/14 our well-being service worked with:• 185 students who had previously attempted suicide (28 of those having current plans to

end their lives)• 501 students who had suicidal thoughts but no specific plan • 184 students who were currently self-harming • 446 students with a history of self-harming

Activities included:• 1,404 students provided with scheduled counselling, mental health support and mentoring• 300 crisis/duty appointments• 450 crisis/duty phone calls

Changing profile of the student population

50% of young people entering higher education

– Entry rates for 18 year-olds from most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of England increased over 70% since 2004 to reach 17% in 2013

– International students increased to 435,500 in 2013/14

Vulnerabilities of student population - transition

Success - new source of self-esteem and opportunities for engagement with peers and the wider society

Underachievement - long-term negative effects on self-esteem, the progress of someone’s future life

Broader social role of universities

• Increase in healthy university initiatives

• Promoting health and well-being in students, staff and the wider community

Developments at UWE Bristol53% rise in applications to Well-being Service - 2011/12 to 2013/14

Therapeutic consultation - 90 minute solution-focused sessionAutumn Term 2014/15:

• 472 students attended TCs• 73 students (15%) went on to have just 1 counselling appointment • 29 students (6%) went on to have 2 counselling appointments• 8 students (1.7%) went on to have 3 counselling appointments• 6 students (1.3%) went on to have 4, 5 or 6 counselling appointments

Duty system with at least two Wellbeing Practitioners on duty each day• Of 809 online registration forms received in Autumn 2014/15, 127 students (15.7%) were

considered to be ‘at risk’

Critical agenda with many challenges

• Significant financial constraints across public sector

• Students with unrecognised and untreated mental illnesses are likely to increase these costs– Loss of return on the public investment in higher

education – Dropout rates will lead to diminished earning capacity

and an increased risk of dependence on state benefits

Integration and efficiency critical• Overcoming practical

impediments

• Learning from successful models of collaborative working

• Modes of delivery that enhance the student experience and promote student responsibility and risk awareness