Supporting Students Experiencing Mental Health Difficulties
The University wishes to offer appropriate support to all students. A Code of Practice for Working with Students with Mental Health difficulties is being drafted, and, in the meantime, all staff are asked to use the following Interim Guidelines as and when problems arise.
General Background
- It is increasingly recognised in Higher Education that there are substantial numbers of students who experience Mental Health problems;
- Some of these problems may be long term, whilst others may be of an acute nature;
- Some students manage to live 'normal' lives whilst experiencing problems and they will sometimes have appropriate support in place to enable them to manage successfully;
- Others may experience short episodes or longer term illness, which can be triggered by a whole range of different events, course/study pressures or personal crises.
It is essential that students with Mental Health Difficulties receive proper professional support and it is appropriate that each of us, as well as of the University as an institution, assists in this.
Is it possible to identify students who need support?
Evidence of Mental Health difficulties may include, for example:
- Challenging behaviour;
- An uncharacteristic change in behaviour or habits;
- A typical attendance;
- Appearance of being withdrawn, sad or depressed;
- Loss of weight
- Appearance of being confused in speech or writing.
What to do if you are concerned about a student
The following guidelines aim to clarify the lines of support available to staff, until further notice, when dealing with students experiencing Mental Health difficulties:
- Any member of staff who has any reason, however limited, to think that a student is experiencing Mental Health problems should contact the Student Support Service immediately, in confidence;
- The first point of contact should be the Student Support Manager, Sara Phipps-Lang who will assess the situation. She may do this in consultation with other colleagues in the Student Support Service;
- Where the Student Support Manager is not available, the first point of contact should be the Disability Support Coordinator, Hannah Bagnell;
- Staff should be aware that where a student can be regarded as being a risk to him/herself or a third party, the responsibility to report overrides considerations of confidentiality;
- Staff should also be aware that any information given to the Student Support Service will be treated with the utmost sensitivity;
- All staff are asked to treat students with respect and sensitivity and to avoid making disparaging comments or gestures about a student who may be behaving in an unusual way;
- If there is any doubt about a student's condition that cannot wait until a member of the Student Support Service is located, an ambulance should be called and Student Support Service informed by email or voicemail;
- If a member of staff is aware that other students are finding it hard to cope with a peer who is experiencing Mental Health difficulties, they should encourage these students to speak to the Student Support Service or report the matter directly.