Westminster Higher Education Forum

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Improving student mental health in Higher Education

December 2021


Starting from: £99 + VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF


This conference focused on priorities for supporting and improving student mental health in higher education, as well as latest thinking on the role of policy, best practice in multi-agency co-operation, and what action is needed to address the impact of the pandemic.


This was an opportunity to discuss mental health among students in Higher Education following the publication of the COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan earlier this year, which identifies children and young people as a key priority for suicide prevention and mental health support. Delegates assessed its proposals and the extent to which further support may be needed.


Following the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions, which have had a significant impact on the lives of students in Higher Education over the past year, and the return of students to university settings, this conference was well timed to consider how the pandemic has affected students’ mental health, and priorities for support and pastoral care going forward.


We were pleased to be able to include keynote contributions on core issues, including:


  • policy priorities for supporting student mental health - Estelle Kane, Senior Officer, Access and Inclusion, Office for Students
  • mental health and suicide prevention - Lord Lucas of Crudwell and Dingwell
  • next steps for university mental health - Rosie Tressler, Chief Executive Officer, Student Minds

The discussion brought together stakeholders with key policy officials who attended from the DfE; the Department for the Economy, NI; the DWP; the DHSC; and the Welsh Government.



This on-demand pack includes

  • A full video recording of the conference as it took place, with all presentations, Q&A sessions, and remarks from chairs
  • An automated transcript of the conference
  • Copies of the slides used to accompany speaker presentations (subject to permission
  • Access to on-the-day materialfs, including speaker biographies, attendee lists and the agenda