The current unprecedented risks to mental health for students have presented major challenges to universities in how they identify and prevent distress, and lead interventions in an era of lockdowns, distance learning, and social isolation.
Ahead of our upcoming Student Mental Health Training on July 1st, we set out what you can expect from the interactive, expert-led course with Dr Dominique Thompson.
The latest updates: what follows Covid?
With the pandemic placing significant pressures on the mental health of young people, you’ll examine the challenges facing student support services in the wake of the crisis; exploring how mental health risks have changed, and provision transformed, to meet new student needs; and what institutions can learn from the pandemic.
Take the time to consider and respond to the impact of lockdowns, social isolation, blended learning, and a transformed student experience on mental health risks.
Hear from the experts
You’ll be in great company, joining Dr Dominique Thompson, Consultant at Buzz Consulting, alongside two colleagues (names tbc). With over three decades of experience between them, (Dominique alone has helped over 78,000 students through university), attendees will have the unique opportunity to work closely with the trainers, posing your ideas and questions to them in a more intimate setting.
Develop a tailored action plan through shared best practice
Learn from what was done well, and what wasn’t. By sharing experiences, and reviewing existing guidance, attendees will identify areas for improvement in their own institution's support services, considering innovative solutions, how best to educate and support colleagues, and overcome barriers to realising improvements.
Working collaboratively, you’ll develop a tailored student mental health support action plan to establish your own team’s long-term response to the mental health challenges caused by the crisis, and effectively support your students (and staff) going forward.
Design high-impact crisis care
With suicidal thoughts among young people increasing during lockdown, this dedicated session will allow you to understand suicidal thinking and self-harm behaviours, why they happen and how you should respond.
Here, you’ll examine how to design high-impact crisis care, provide effective out of hours support for students, and develop your institution’s preventative approach to student suicide and severe mental health risks.
Understand the role of academic staff: meeting student needs in the blended learning era
The importance of academic staff is not to be underplayed. In an era of blended and remote learning, discuss the role of academics and departments in supporting a holistic approach to managing student mental wellbeing, and ensure staff are supported with the skills and professional training to embed mental wellbeing in all their contact with students.
You’ll examine how to identify and manage mental health in the current learning environment; review how course behaviours, attainment and engagement with remote learning can indicate mental health risks to academics; and learn how to ensure an impactful and collaborative relationship between course leaders and student wellbeing services.
Sound interesting? There are still places available on the the training course. Click below to find out more!
