1. Mental health services at Scotland’s colleges and universities
Jenny Lees, Campaigns and Engagement Manager
Think Positive launch event,
3 September 2018

2. What issues do students face?
Period of change in peoples’ lives
Living off low income
Moving away from support network
Stressful period with deadlines and exams
Different groups of students e.g. international students, care leavers
Problems with course
Struggling to make new friends/becoming isolated
Worrying about career path
Flat mate disputes/living with strangers
Exam results
Not knowing how to access services
Hate crime

3. The student experience
“Where support and treatment is lacking, poor mental health can lead to increased risk of students dropping out of university, or in the most severe and tragic cases, death by suicide.”
Why is student mental health an important issue, and what is its impact on education?
We know mental health is a retention issue. As noted by IPPR, in their report on university mental health services, poor mental health can result in students dropping out of university, or in tragic cases, death by suicide.
And, there is clearly a fair access angle to mental health support – with mental ill health being more common amongst those with deprived backgrounds. With the Scottish Government setting ambitious targets to get more students from poorer postcodes into university, it’s clear that we’ll need to make sure that there is the right support – in terms of mental health and welfare support – to allow all students to stay, and succeed in education.
“While mental illness, mental distress and low wellbeing can affect all kinds of people, they are more common among those from more deprived backgrounds.”

4. The student experience
NUS UK research from 2015 found:
78% of respondents reported experiencing mental health problems in the past year
37% of respondents starting college or university in the next year were worried about the mental health support on offer at their new institution

5. The student experience
Of those seeking support:
67% sought it from their local GP
49% sought it from their institution
39% sought it from their family
A third did not know where to go

6. Student demand for mental health services

7. Demand for mental health services
Between 2012/13 and 2016/17, across Scotland’s colleges and universities, there was a:
76% increase in students requesting access to mental health support amongst 17 colleges and universities holding data
49% increase in students receiving counselling services amongst 22 institutions holding data

8. Demand at colleges

9. Demand at universities

10. What’s on offer at our colleges and universities?

11. Mental health services at universities

12. Mental health services at colleges

13. What’s next?

14. Next steps

15. Better mental health support
New funding to
establish a universal
level of counselling
provision at institutions.
Improved integration
between institutions
and the NHS.
Roll-out of on-campus training for staff and students.

16. Task – let us know what you think!
In groups, discuss and note down what you think would make good mental health support.
What would counselling support look like?
What training should be on offer to staff and students?
How would your institution link up with local NHS services, or other local pastoral care providers?
What have you seen work well? What hasn’t?

17. Thanks for listening!