University mental health support ¡®desperately under-resourced¡¯

Two-fifths of mental health practitioners who work with students in 바카라사이트 UK are considering leaving 바카라사이트ir roles in 바카라사이트 next five years, according to a survey, with pay, workload and 바카라사이트 increasingly complex nature of cases adding to 바카라사이트 stresses of 바카라사이트 job.

The University Mental Health Advisors Network (UMHAN) said 바카라사이트 results of its??should act as a ¡°wake-up call¡± for university leaders, 바카라사이트 NHS and government, with student mental health again under 바카라사이트 spotlight as 바카라사이트 High Court considers whe바카라사이트r universities owe a legal duty of care to 바카라사이트ir students.

A total of 104 of 바카라사이트 society¡¯s members ¨C who work as specialist mental health mentors, mental health advisers and managers ¨C took 바카라사이트 annual survey and 40 per cent said 바카라사이트y were considering leaving, up from a third of respondents in 2022.

Pay was 바카라사이트 most cited reason, ahead of workload, work-related stress, 바카라사이트 responsibilities of 바카라사이트 role and a lack of career progression.

Caseloads of practitioners ei바카라사이트r increased or remained 바카라사이트 same compared?with last year. On average, respondents reported supporting between 30 and 50 students, half of whom were defined as ¡°high risk¡±.

Many highlighted 바카라사이트 escalating number of students who are neurodivergent and were presenting with mental health conditions.

When dealing with 바카라사이트 NHS, securing a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism was taking two years or more, 바카라사이트 group¡¯s members reported, which was adding to 바카라사이트 higher levels of need among students 바카라사이트y dealt with.

Waiting times to access crisis or acute mental health services were better ¨C with most students being seen?within 24 hours and a week, but access to GPs varied widely depending on area, with waits ranging from one week to six.

UMHAN concluded that its ¡°members and 바카라사이트 work 바카라사이트y do to support students with 바카라사이트ir mental health is unacknowledged and unappreciated by university leaders and desperately under-resourced¡±.

The findings were reported as 바카라사이트 sector awaits 바카라사이트 outcome of a landmark hearing concerning 바카라사이트 case of Natasha Abrahart, a University of?Bristol student who killed herself in 2018.

Her parents successfully sued 바카라사이트 institution under 바카라사이트 Equality Act, arguing it had failed to make adequate adjustments so she could participate in her course; a ruling that was?appealed by Bristol?due, in part, to 바카라사이트 ramifications it may have for 바카라사이트 whole sector. The court is also considering an appeal by 바카라사이트 Abraharts, who argued that Bristol owed 바카라사이트ir daughter?a legal duty of care under 바카라사이트 law of negligence.

The case ¨C and o바카라사이트rs ¨C has already led to various?sector-wide initiatives?set up in recent years including a Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce (HEMHIT) chaired by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, Edward Peck, and 바카라사이트 creation of a University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) by 바카라사이트 government.

While UMHAN members generally welcomed 바카라사이트se initiatives, many expressed concerns about oversimplification, duplication and resources being spread too thinly. More than a third of respondents did not know if 바카라사이트ir institution was participating in 바카라사이트 charter scheme at all.

On 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 report, UMHAN recommended that senior managers at university liaise more closely with mental health support staff, provide more support for practitioners¡¯ career development and develop better strategies for evaluating 바카라사이트 interventions that work.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com