15 questions for Universities about student mental health 🧠

This is the first of a two-part post. The second part will surface the real reasons universities can’t solve the student mental health crisis.

This first post might be framed as a searching, honest interview for anyone associated with higher education institutions. Through this conversation, each of us can help to light the dark on the gaps that exist, both known and unknown.

For context and stats, read here;

https://www.csc.edu/care/resources/statistics/index.csc — US-based data.

http://shura.shu.ac.uk/6449/1/Macaskill_University_students.pdf — UK student mental health study.

👋 If you are in any way connected to an established university or college, I invite you to read, reflect and share your responses to the following 15 questions.

1. ✋ What are the current mental health and wellbeing services for students at your University?
2. ⬆️ What is the uptake (%) of these services by students?
3. 🤷🏽‍♀️ What is the perception of these services within the student body?
4. 👩🏽‍💻 How accessible are these services to students?
5. 🆘 In a time of crisis, where can a student turn? What examples do you have?
6. 📅 How long will students have to wait for an appointment?
7. 🗣 What is the leading issue students seek support for?
8. 📈 As a university, what data do you track and use to make decisions around student mental health and well being?
9. ⛔️ What % of students need support but don’t receive it/ask for it?
10. 📊 What pastoral data do you report on as an institution?
11. 😔 What % of students drop out due to unresolved mental health issues?
12. 💷 What is the financial allocation for student mental health and wellbeing?
13. 👍🏼 What is the process to get sign off on external service providers?
14. 🤔As an institution, what did you do in the past month to better support students’ mental health and wellbeing?
15. 🔮 What have you learnt in the past 5 years that will inform the next 10?

The second part of this post will follow shortly.

In the meantime feel free to reach me here with responses, feedback or further questions;

toby@candleapp.io