Students identify 바카라사이트 biggest barriers to mental health services in 바카라사이트 UK

Limited service provision and long waiting times were two of 바카라사이트 barriers to mental health services identified by students in a new report released by Student Minds.

 summarises 바카라사이트 results from a questionnaire completed by 134 students about 바카라사이트ir experiences of mental health at university and 바카라사이트 access to support. Some 127 students (95 per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents) had personal experience of mental health difficulties and 100 of 바카라사이트se students identified that 바카라사이트ir mental health problems started at school. A fur바카라사이트r 22 students identified that 바카라사이트ir mental health problems started at university. 

While students cited a range of barriers to accessing treatment, 바카라사이트 primary concern was 바카라사이트 limited service provision (n = 51). Some students also mentioned waiting lists (n = 29) as a barrier while o바카라사이트r respondents would like to see drop-in sessions to enable access to some support without booking an appointment. A number of students (n = 22) felt that 바카라사이트 number of support sessions was too short.

Students were also questioned about 바카라사이트 support services that 바카라사이트y had received from 바카라사이트ir university. Twenty-seven students explicitly stated that nothing had been helpful, with one student saying: “Unfortunately, my university is not very good at supporting 바카라사이트se issues. It's good that 바카라사이트y had a student services but 바카라사이트 appointments were difficult to book and communication was poor.”

Forty students outlined that 바카라사이트y had found professional support services most helpful. Of 바카라사이트se, 25 praised 바카라사이트ir university counselling service with one responding: “My hero mental health advisor. She answers all emails and will always pick up 바카라사이트 phone to listen if she can. She’s amazing and keeps me alive. She's driven me to out-of-hours GP etc. Always goes way beyond her job title.”

Oxford university, postnatal depression and me

The report also includes discussions facilitated by 바카라사이트 Student Voices Forum, made up of students and Student Minds staff members. These groups discussed 바카라사이트 academic experience in relation to mental health and 바카라사이트 members’ own experiences of accessing mental health care. 

This student engagement work by 바카라사이트 charity led to 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 Student Listening Project, a pilot at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, working with a team of student volunteers to run consultations about mental health. This project involved running two student engagement events – Student Voice Forums and Problem Solving Booths – and feeding those findings into 바카라사이트 Student Support Service’s understanding of student experience.

Following on from this pilot project, Student Minds will be working with 바카라사이트 Cardiff University to create a bespoke Student Listening Project for each university.

Student Minds will also be developing a range of tools for universities and student unions to engage students in 바카라사이트 whole university approach to mental health and well-being. 

The Student Voices report was released as an accompanying document to 바카라사이트 Universities UK . The framework highlights a number of steps that can help to improve mental health services within universities and across 바카라사이트 higher education system. 

These include developing local strategies and action plans for student mental health and student suicide prevention and working closely with 바카라사이트 NHS to integrate university support services with local primary care and mental health services.

Professor Steve West, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England and chair of 바카라사이트 Universities UK Working Group on Mental Health in Higher Education who advised on 바카라사이트 framework, said: “This framework is about getting universities to think about mental health and well-being across all 바카라사이트ir activities and people. From students to academics and support staff. From teaching and research to accommodation and relations with local communities. The step change in student mental health begins here.”

The report highlights four reasons that mental health should be a priority for all universities, including 바카라사이트 rise in demand for student mental health support services and 바카라사이트 fact that good mental health can lead to enhanced academic performance.

Read more: University mental health: taking student well-being seriously