NHS England is supporting students at Universities across the East and West Midlands with their mental health.
This comes as November is often the busiest time for University mental health and wellbeing services, with students suffering from homesickness and loneliness alongside their academic pressures. Considering this, neighbourhood cafes have been established at the Universities of Birmingham, De Montfort Leicester, and Loughborough following consultations with student unions and wellbeing teams.
A 2022 survey from mental health charity Student Minds has reported that 57% of students self-reported a mental health issue, whilst 27% had a diagnosed mental health condition. To combat this, the cafes have been launched to deliver support through workshops, signposting towards help, as well as individual and group sessions.
Commenting on the support, Loughborough University’s Head of Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity, Karen Watts, said:
“Education and the experience of being at university is a key part of an individuals’ life and development. Ensuring appropriate education, health and support which wraps around the student experience, can make a huge difference to someone’s completion of a degree and future life opportunities.
“Our focus remains on improving provision for students, and the Mental Health Café’s allow students to have access to therapeutic resources.”
Alongside the cafés, universities are also exploring the embedding of an NHS Talking Therapies practitioner. This will work to reduce amount of time that students spend waiting for mental health support.
Giles Tinsley, Programme Director for Mental Health at NHS England in the Midlands, also commented:
“University can be exciting and challenging time for young people. The Mental Health Cafés are a huge support to those studying at university.”
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