Student Mental Health & Wellbeing

HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMY, YORK

WEDNESDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2013

BIO - ED

2008 – Launched The Mind Matters Society at the University of Leeds

2010 – Founded Mental Wealth UK: a national student mental health charity

2012 – Worked with the Guardian to publish data on increase in student suicide rate since the recession begun

2013 – Worked for NUS to lead ‘Open Your Mind’, their mental health project in Northern Ireland

Current – Consulting for Mindfull; looking at international approaches to youth mental health & wellbeing

AGENDA

• An introduction to mental health & support mechanisms

• An introduction to anti-stigma work

• Basic forms of peer support

• Methods of self-care and looking after ourselves

• Actions we can take to improve the situation on our campuses.

QUESTION

What do you want to get out of the day?

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?

“…a state of well-being

in which every individual realizes his or her own potential,

can cope with the normal stresses of life,

can work productively and fruitfully,

and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”

– World Health Organisation‘Healthy Settings’ Approach

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

• Suicides increased by 50% between 2007 and 2011.

• ‘20% consider themselves to have a mental health problem; ‘13% have suicidal thoughts’ – NUS Survey, 2013

• Increasing grass-roots activity in spite of institutional limitations

What student issues might cause/exacerbate mental health problems?

QUESTION

For references / queries visit www.edwardpinkney.com

STUDENT ISSUES

Exam/coursework worries

Making friends/fitting in

Living alone for the first time (domestic stuff)

Feeling isolated from friends and family

Career worries (graduate unemployment)

Pressure from family / self

Financial worries/debt

MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OCCUR WHEN…

Perceived demand exceeds perceived resources for meeting demand

Expectations Commitments

Responsibilities

DutiesBurdens

Pressures

THE LANDSCAPE

Counselling services

Mental health advisors

Peer support programs

Classes by counselling services (& libraries/careers centres)

Campaigns (& Mental Wealth Groups)

Increasing departmental activity such as peer mentoring and interest in integrating into curriculums

National bodies/projects such as HUCS, UMHAN, Healthy Universities, MWBHE, MHHE, Student Minds, Nightline...

MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE

Film showings

Inviting students to share what they do for their minds

Writing worries on balloons

Student radio / tv shows

Mental health first aid training

Poster competition

‘Paint your feelings’ – art/creative activity

Information stalls

Fresh fruit to encourage de-stressing

Inner Child Day

Exam stress packs

GROUP ACTIVITY (10 MINS)

1. What segment are you focussing on?

2. What’s your idea?

3. How would you implement it?

OPENNESS ABOUT WHAT? / WITH WHOM?

WITH SELF WITH PEERS WITH AUTHORITIES

ABOUT MY ISSUES(1st person)

REFLECTING RELATING DISCLOSING

ABOUT GENERAL ISSUES(3rd person)

PHILOSOPHISING DISCUSSING LOBBYING

A CULTURE OF OPENNESS

RELATED LINKS‘Student suicides rise during recession’

http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2012/nov/30/student-suicide-recession-mental-health

NUS survey into mental health

http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/20-per-cent-of-students-consider-themselves-to-have-a-mental-health-problem/

Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 2011 report

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/collegereports/cr/cr166.aspx

Creating a coordinated approach to student mental health

http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/dec/05/student-mental-health-university-responsibility

edwardpinkney@gmail.com