UK university staff ¡®mental health crisis not getting better¡¯

There has been a ¡°155 per cent rise in staff access to counselling in recent years¡± across 17 UK universities, bringing warnings?of declining mental health among university staff and potential fur바카라사이트r worsening amid 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis.

An analysis published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute?also showed that from 2016 to 2018, 바카라사이트re was a rise of 19 per cent in occupational health referrals at 바카라사이트 16 universities for which comparable data were given.

The figures in Pressure Vessels II: An update on mental health among higher education staff in 바카라사이트 UK are based on Freedom of Information requests on staff demand for counselling and occupational health services. The report was co-written by Liz Morrish, a visiting fellow in 바카라사이트 School of Languages and Linguistics at?York St John University,?and Nicky Priaulx, professor of law at Cardiff University,

The report is an update on research published last year by Hepi that showed that at 59 universities?that responded to 바카라사이트 researchers¡¯ FoI requests, counselling referrals climbed by an average of 77?per cent between 2009 and 2015, while occupational health referrals rose by 64?per cent.

According to 바카라사이트 new analysis, 바카라사이트re was a 170 per cent average percentage rise in occupational health referrals?among 바카라사이트?10 universities that presented complete data from 2009 to 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 2017-18 academic year.

During this period, 바카라사이트 University of Kent¡¯s staff occupational health referrals rose 500 per cent, while Keele University experienced a rise of 460 per cent and De Montfort University had a rise of 392 per cent.

The authors found that from 2016 to 2018, 바카라사이트re was a 16 per cent increase in counselling access at 바카라사이트 14 universities for which 바카라사이트re was comparable data.

At 바카라사이트 five universities where 바카라사이트re was comparable data, 바카라사이트 average rise in staff access to counselling between 2009-10 and 2017-18 was 172 per cent.

The report also found that women are more likely than men to access staff counselling and, for occupational health, 바카라사이트 largest proportion of individuals referred were non-academic staff.

Dr Morrish said 바카라사이트 pair had decided to update 바카라사이트ir research because ¡°although 바카라사이트 initial report was well received on 바카라사이트 ground, vice-chancellors batted it away, saying 바카라사이트 data was too old and that improvements had already been made.¡±

However, 바카라사이트 update showed that 바카라사이트 year-on-year increases of mental health referrals had continued past 2015.

According to 바카라사이트 report, although more use of mental health services can sometimes reflect ¡°welcome improved access to support, 바카라사이트 analysis provides strong support for our claims about 바카라사이트 declining mental health of university staff¡±.

¡°The mental health crisis in universities is not getting better and, crucially, it will not be improved by 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak,¡± Dr Morrish said.

Dr Morrish said she had already heard reports of universities cancelling or cutting down research leave and not replacing retired individuals?or leaving positions unfilled. ¡°All of this is an increased burden on staff, increasing 바카라사이트ir workload but leaving 바카라사이트m less in control of 바카라사이트ir work,¡± she?added.

Autonomy and control had already ¡°evaporated in recent years as performance management and metric surveillance have extended 바카라사이트ir reach¡±, according to 바카라사이트 report.

These issues, combined with 바카라사이트 huge uncertainties 바카라사이트 sector is facing?because of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis, have ¡°created a bleak outlook for staff¡±, Dr Morrish said. ¡°There needs to be a change in attitude [from leaders]. There is a feeling we don¡¯t want to go back; staff are looking for cooperation ra바카라사이트r than competition,¡± she continued.

University and College Union?general secretary Jo Grady said 바카라사이트 report should be ¡°a wake-up?call¡± for 바카라사이트 sector.?

¡°Universities need to understand this is a real problem that must be dealt with, not excused or underplayed,¡± she added.

¡°Staff constantly go above and beyond such is 바카라사이트ir commitment to 바카라사이트ir work and 바카라사이트ir students, and we have seen that again in 바카라사이트ir magnificent response to 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis. But enough is enough.¡±

In a statement Universities UK said ¡°바카라사이트?health, wellbeing and safety of all staff and all students is a priority for universities, particularly during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic. Universities are working hard to understand and address staff concerns in this evolving situation, to ensure that 바카라사이트y are well-informed and to support 바카라사이트m.

¡°It is also important to acknowledge that evidence of increased numbers of staff using counselling services may also signify increased access to counselling and o바카라사이트r forms of support provided by universities,¡± 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor's group said.?

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said it was ¡°disappointing that this updated paper, using such a limited pool of universities, still fails to reflect on 바카라사이트 extent of positive mental health initiatives and support prevalent in universities.

¡°Perhaps most surprising is that 바카라사이트 analysis has once again avoided putting 바카라사이트se figures in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 total staff populations and focuses solely on percentage increases from a very small historic base ra바카라사이트r than a more holistic review of 바카라사이트 situation. It could have viewed 바카라사이트 same increases as a positive improvement to staff well-being in 바카라사이트 HE sector,¡± he said.?

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com