0800 298 2460
Student Mental Health Conference
“One area where I particularly think work needs to be done is in mental health. Several students have raised this issue with me and said they feel that the provision and understanding of the pressures on students needs to evolve.” – Sam Gyimah, Universities Minister
Universities are facing a mental health crisis. In 2018, the number of undergraduate students reporting a mental health problem was 49,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous year. In 2016 alone, 146 students took their own lives.
With the student population now standing at 2.3 million, universities and the health service are facing unprecedented demand. With many students splitting their time between campus and their family home it can be difficult for different agencies to communicate and co-ordinate care. In May 2018, Universities UK published the “Minding our Future” report calling for improved collaboration with the NHS, more action to accommodate those with existing conditions and the creation of specific student mental health teams.
Join us for the Student Mental Health Conference where experts in mental health and pastoral care will discuss how the HE sector can address the crisis in mental wellbeing. Understand the pressures impacting today’s students, learn from examples of best practice and network with professionals from other organisations to discuss opportunities to collaborate.
Agenda
| 09:00 | Registration, refreshments and exhibition |
| 10:00 | Opening remarks from the morning chair: Gedminte Mikulenaite, Policy Officer (Mental Health in Higher Education), Universities UK
|
| 10:10 | Morning keynote: The challenges facing students and how universities can respond effectively Gedminte Mikulenaite, Policy Officer (Mental Health in Higher Education), Universities UK
|
| 10:35 | How we created our Student Health and Wellbeing Strategy (and what we need to do next) Andy Winter, Campus Life Director, University of Nottingham
|
| 11:00 | Joint question and discussion session |
| 11:10 | Refreshments and networking |
| 11:30 | Creating, communicating and implementing a new student mental health strategy: one year on Susan Bridgeford, Director of Student Support Services, University of Sheffield
|
| 11:55 | Creating and developing a whole institution mental health strategy Suzanne Carrie, Head of Student Inclusivity and Simon Phillips, Head of Student Support and Wellbeing, UWE Bristol
|
| 12:20 | Joint question and discussion session |
| 12:30 | Lunch and networking |
Afternoon chair: Suzanne Carrie, Head of Student Inclusivity, UWE Bristol | |
| 13:30 | Special keynote: Building student resilience: enabling student success through positive approaches Alan Percy, Chair of HUCS (Heads of University Counselling Services) and Head of Counselling, University of Oxford
|
| 13:55 | Better understanding the specific mental health needs of international students Josephine NwaAmaka Bardi, Founder of RAMHHE (Raising Awareness of Mental Health in Higher Education)
|
| 14:20 | Joint question and discussion session |
| 14:30 | Refreshments and networking |
| 14:50 | Student suicide: Providing support for students and HE professionals Joann Hitchen, Regional Development Officer, Papyrus UK
|
| 15:15 | An overview of Anxiety UK's services David Smithson, Services Manager, Anxiety UK
|
| 15:40 | Joint questions and discussion |
| 15:50 | Closing remarks from chair |
| 16:00 | Conference close *Programme subject to change without notice |
All dates
| Date | Venue | Price from: | Status | Spaces | Book Now | Enquire |
|---|
Learning outcomes
- Exploring the scope of the mental health challenges facing university students today
- Effectively responding to the rising demands for mental health services in higher education
- Developing comprehensive and effective strategies for services that promote joined-up thinking and better institutional collaboration
- Equipping academic staff with the knowledge and confidence to address and refer a student presenting mental health concerns to them
- Building student resilience in both their academic and social lives at university
- Collaborating with the health service to deliver comprehensive joined-up care for students away from their home town/city
- Supporting students through the key transition points of university life when they are most likely to feel anxiety, stress or at risk of declining mental health
- Sharing best practice with other HE institutions and how to access valuable mental health resources
Who should attend?
- Diversity and Inclusion Officers
- Directors of Student Experience
- Student Counsellors
- Student Support Coordinator
- Vice Chancellors
- Welfare Officers and Advisors
- Student Information Advisor
- Student Service Managers
- Senior Lecturers
- Head of Campus and Operational Services
- Halls of Residents and Welfare Managers