Friday 3 February 2012

Charter For University Mental Health & Wellbeing

This document proposes five targets that, collectively, can create better conditions for university staff and students. It calls for higher education institutions and support organisations to back these targets through public acknowledgement and a declaration of intent.

1. All universities to have a mental health & wellbeing policy A regularly reviewed, and publicly available, document that outlines how the university intends to support the mental health & wellbeing of it’s members, and that provides a framework and strategy for implementation. (As recommended by the Royal College of Psychatrists, 2011)

2. All universities to offer mental health & wellbeing training for students/staffA program that introduces students and staff to the topic of mental health and wellbeing, prevailing attitudes, how to support one’s own wellbeing, how to identify problems in others, and the available services. Staff should also be taught to factor student mental health into the design of curriculums, departmental policies, and teaching methods. (As recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2011)

3. All universities to adopt a ‘whole-university’ approach to mental health & wellbeingA whole-university approach - as thoroughly outlined in the Healthy Universities guidance papers - recognises the broad and holistic conditions that determine the mental health & wellbeing of university staff & students. It strives, therefore, to integrate and bring into alignment relevant agencies and activities in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s ‘Healthy Settings’ approach. (As recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2011)

4. All universities to have a mental heath & wellbeing committee A group that regularly meets to discuss relevant policy, services & promotion concerning mental health & wellbeing; and which includes representation from the student community, and staff across the institution, in keeping with a whole-university approach.

5. A national committee for university mental health and wellbeingFor all universities to have access to guidance and advocacy through a national committee that contains representation from university staff, student unions, the student community, and relevant public and third sector bodies; meeting regularly, providing a forum for debate, acting in the interests of staff and students, and providing universities with recommendations and guidance.

ReferencesRoyal College of Psychiatrists, (2011). Mental Health Of Students in Higher Education. [online] www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/collegereports/cr/cr166.aspx Healthy Universities Project. Leading And Developing The Whole System Universities Approach. [online] http://www.healthyuniversities.ac.uk/ World Health Organisation. Healthy Settings. [online] http://www.who.int/healthy_settings/en/