Student Mental Health Charter
28 June 2018
Responding to the announcement of a new University Mental Health Charter, Russell Group Chief Executive Dr Tim Bradshaw, called for ambition and a spirit of partnership to better support mental health:
“University is meant to be an exciting and rewarding time, albeit challenging, and we want all students to have the best possible experience. We take very seriously our responsibility to support better mental health in our institutions and across the sector more broadly.
“The new Student Minds mental health charter should be an important addition to the ongoing work in this area. Russell Group universities have been building up support services over many years, from drop-in surgeries and advice centres to professional counselling, workshops with wellbeing advisors, free gym sessions and exercise programmes, nightlines and bespoke mental health support plans to help individuals develop their emotional resilience. Our universities work closely with the NHS, schools, colleges, local authorities and third sector organisations to create as wide as possible a support network for students who may be struggling. We support Universities UK’s #StepChange framework which encourages more universities to shift to a “whole institution” approach.
“But it is right that we are even more ambitious, filling the gaps which remain and ensuring that we are pursuing the most effective interventions. We look forward to collaborating with Ministers, charities and our partners across the public sector and the higher education world in a spirit of partnership, on what is a complex challenge for universities and society.”
Related case studies
Unravelling the mystery of stress and healthy ageing
Collaborating across borders with 10 other European institutions, the University of Birmingham is researching crucial health challenges of our ageing populations.
Read more >
Investing in mental health support
In 2016 the University of York announced they would invest up to £500,000 in mental health care provision over the next three years to further enhance student support services.
Read more >