Student Mental Health and Wellbeing in Higher Education

Good mental health is essential for students to manage the challenges that university life presents. This book offers pragmatic guidance to support academic and student services staff in engaging with this critical issue, both in terms of being proactive within their role to promote a positive approach to wellbeing, and understanding how to care appropriately for students who may not be flourishing in the university environment. 

Key topics include:

·         The pressure points and transitions of student life

·         The crucial role of departmental and academic staff

·         How to make mental health policies work

·         The legal obligations and limits of student support

·         Creating the conditions for confident support

Dr Nicola Barden is a Professional Fellow at the University of Winchester, where from 2013-18 she was the Director of Student Services. Prior to this she led counselling and mental health teams at the Universities of Portsmouth and Aston. She has over thirty years’ experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist, spending some time in the voluntary sector working with young people and those with alcohol problems. She has chaired the Heads of University Counselling Services group, and contributed significantly to the work of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as Chair of their Accreditation and then Professional Standards Committee before becoming Chair of the Association from 2005-08. She remains a Fellow of the Association, and was also registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. She has edited the BACP Journal Therapy Today, been a lecturer and external examiner on several counselling programmes, and has published in the field of gender, sexuality and therapy. From 2012 to 2018 she was the Secretary of the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Working Group, and from 2016-18 was on the Executive Committee of AMOSSHE, the Student services organisation. Dr Ruth Caleb MBE is a wellbeing consultant, trainer and psychotherapist, BACP member and registered with UKCP, who specialises in the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff in higher education.  She is also a supervisor and tutor on the Metanoia Institute / Middlesex University Doctorates in Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology programmes.  She has over 30 years’ experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist in a wide variety of settings, including the National Aids Helpline, ChildLine, fertility counselling and private practice. Over the last 25 years she has specialised in mental health and wellbeing support for university students and staff.  She was Head of Counselling at Brunel University London from 1999 to 2017.   Ruth was Chair of the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education (MWBHE) Working Group from 2012 to 2018 and was a member of Universities UK’s Mental Health in HE programme working group. She has worked strategically at a national level, including addressing and contributing to All-Party Parliamentary Group meetings on student health and informing Members of Parliament speaking in parliamentary debates involving student wellbeing.  Previously Ruth was Chair of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s Universities and Colleges Executive Committee (2008-2010) and a member of the BACP International Research Committee (2003-2006). She has published articles and book chapters on student mental health and wellbeing, ethical practice, organisational support and the role of a counselling service.