October 2022
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This conference focused on the provision of mental health support in higher education, with recent research finding more than two thirds of students experiencing mental health concerns while at university.
It was an opportunity to examine a range of policy initiatives, along with funding announced by the Government - including the scheme aimed at bringing universities together with the NHS and other services to enhance support and improve the student experience - and the appointment of the first Student Support Champion.
Areas for discussion included:
- mental health strategies - evidence-based whole-university approaches to mental health provision post-pandemic - best practice
- resources - challenges and priorities for funding and system capacity - the impact of the latest tuition fee freeze and continuing rises in demand for support services
- joint working - latest on university and NHS partnerships - practicalities for collaboration, data sharing, and co-ordination between universities themselves
- teaching, learning and assessment - factoring academic rigour and support for student mental health into pedagogy, remote settings, assessment, and deadlines - staff roles and relationships
- higher-risk student communities - targeted interventions, co-creation, and strategies to address challenges arising from identity, race and culture, experience of abuse and trauma, care experience, and issues such as student poverty
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Dr Omar Khan, Director, Centre for Transforming Access and Students Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO); John de Pury, Assistant Director of Policy, Universities UK; Michael Baber, Director, Health Action Campaign; and Dr Dominique Thompson, Founder, Buzz Consulting.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the DHSC; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Health, NI; and the Welsh Government.
