University students at UK universities are becoming ever more stressed and anxious. Most of them are deeply frustrated with the ancillary support services that could help them stay afloat. In September 2022, Imogen arrived at the University of Nottingham, clutching a letter addressed to the student wellbeing services, symbolizing the hopes and expectations many have when seeking help. This case is representative of a larger trend. This is a mind-boggling number — 122,430 students reported experiencing mental health ailments with only 2.9 million students enrolled.
The urgency surrounding mental health support in higher education has intensified as institutions strive to create safe and supportive environments. Many have begun to call into question the fairness of putting the mental health support responsibility on universities alone. The University of Manchester has implemented personal tutors equipped with a “handbook of academic advising” and PowerPoint slides that provide generic questions for specific situations. This raises important questions about its real impact on both ensuring that instruction meets the individual needs of every student and, if so, how well.
Sally Lambah is pro-vice chancellor for student support and wellbeing, Wrexham University. She reiterates during our conversation that current university classes may be lacking essential skills for social development due to the heightened isolation from the pandemic. We know that Dr. Mann has to be feeling this right now. Even as a mental health professional, he found himself ill-prepared to address the multifaceted challenges of student mental health crises.
“Even as a mental health professional it’s really difficult to navigate.” – Dr. Mann
Given the enormous scale of these challenges, groups including Amosshe have warned against imposing impossible demands on higher education institutions. They are making the case that universities can and should do so much more to promote student wellbeing. They should not be expected to shoulder the whole load of mental health care.
The recent heartbreaking death of Natasha Abrahart reminds us just how immediate the need for mental health resources desperately is. In May 2022, her parents successfully sued the University of Bristol, receiving more than £50,000 in damages. Bob Abrahart, Natasha’s father, asserts that universities have a fundamental responsibility to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for their students.
“If universities can’t provide a safe and supportive environment then they are not fit for purpose.” – Bob Abrahart
Dr. Sarah Sweeney, director of student support and wellbeing at Lancaster University, concedes that we’ve come a long way in normalizing conversations about mental health. She cautions there’s much left to accomplish. She argues that climate has changed dramatically because these conversations have really stigmatized stigma. As she points out, universities must adequately resource their support to keep up with rising demand.
“Student services can do a lot, but it needs to be properly resourced, and there is increasing demand.” – Dr. Sarah Sweeney
Despite increased funding, universities have seen a 73% rise in spending on mental health services over the past five years. The reality remains that many feel unsupported. Leacsaidh, a University of Nottingham student, describes the mental health services as “one size fits all.” She points to a huge gap between what’s out there and what the students—each of them unique—need.
In hopes of alleviating some of the growing concerns, university officials have been urging students to share their experiences with the services that are offered. In their response to media inquiries, a spokesperson from the University of Nottingham’s key services supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing stressed that such services should be complementary to clinical NHS services for more serious or complex needs.
“We encourage any student with concerns to discuss their experiences with us.” – University spokesperson
National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) has issued a radical call. They’re calling on all staff in universities to receive mandatory mental health training and suicide prevention training. This recommendation is based on the understanding that most frontline staff lack training. Perhaps most importantly, they must be trained to approach sensitive mental health conversations with care and compassion.
Inclusive change Institutions are learning, and reinventing and rethinking how they support students. It’s a challenging but important balance for them to strike between providing tobacco cessation resources and encouraging students to take the initiative to reach out for help.
“They’re used to adults just stepping in and rescuing them. I think we need to teach them to rescue themselves.” – Dr. Mann
The conversation surrounding mental health in universities indicates an evolving landscape where challenges persist alongside efforts for improvement. As institutions continue to develop and adapt their support systems, it remains crucial for them to strike a balance between providing necessary resources and empowering students to seek help when needed.
