Higher education has come a long way in recognising and being aware of mental health issues that students enter their studies with. This includes better data collected through UCAS, work undertaken via AdvanceHE with their Education for Mental Health Toolkit, TASO’s Student Mental Health Evidence Hub and the development of the University Mental Health Charter.
I was privileged to be asked to comment on the draft University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) with my transitions specialist hat on when it was being created. As a UMHC assessor and as a university recipient of the award, I strongly feel that the University Mental Health Charter is a valuable tool for universities. For institutions who are uncertain about the charter, it is important to recognise that an institution’s application is not assessed by national metrics/standards but by their own submission and the evidence they present. As part of the assessment, there is also a site visit, where discussion occurs with key stakeholders. All assessors are trained and are highly experienced in their own area of higher education. The Charter framework recognises that every university will have different issues and challenges because the student body will be different. It helps universities identify:
- The good practice that is taking place within the institution;
- What could be improved;
- What interlinking of information sharing occurs and where it could be developed; and
- The risks within and across each of the 18 themes.
