Student Mental Health Essentials (Faculties and Departments)

New

‘Student Mental Health Essentials’ is a focused introductory guide to student mental health tailored to the Cambridge context. The programme has been developed with Academic Departments, for Academic Departments, and is led by trainers from the University’s Student Wellbeing Service.

The session offers essential information and practical guidance relevant to the roles of academic and professional staff at Faculties and Departments and offers opportunities for discussion and analysis of authentic case studies with colleagues.

We welcome suggestions of practical scenarios relevant to your context to ensure the scenarios are appropriate and useful. Each session includes practical resources and information on services which will be circulated alongside the session slides for reference.

Target audiences include, but are not limited to Academic Faculty/Department roles such as:

• Academic Teaching and Research Staff
• Professional, administrative or support staff
• Postgraduate Research Supervisors
• Directors of Education and/or Heads of Department (please note that we have a separate Mental Health Awareness Programme for Senior Leaders you may prefer to attend in your role)

Trainees must be attached to an Academic Faculty or Department at the University and have interactions with students.

Please note that the session will only run with a minimum of 8 participants. The date will be confirmed once at least 8 participants make a booking. Otherwise, the training will be rescheduled.

Number of sessions: 1

• Consolidate awareness and up-to-date knowledge of College, University and local professional mental health services.
• Clarify practical guidance aligned with the Collegiate University's Stepped Care approach.
• Confidence about the scope and boundaries of our various responsibilities on student mental health.
• Create opportunities to discuss bespoke case studies and to reflect on best practice.

0-30 minutes: Introduction to Student Mental Health at Cambridge

• High-level themes and data on student mental health.
• Key warning signs of declining mental health across common mental health presentations.
• Introduction to University, College and local professional mental health services including the NHS.

(A headline summary of the collegiate university’s new approach (Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan)

30-60 minutes: Principles of good practice

• Confidentiality guidance and principles
• Clarify the scope and limitations of non-specialist student-facing roles.
• How to ask where you have concerns about a student’s wellbeing.
• How to refer, including example conversation.
• Guidance on handling difficult conversations.

60-80 minutes: Breakout group scenarios and discussion

• Scenario on responding to concerns student may be presenting with risk of harm to themselves, highlighting professional support and referral resources and tools for safe conversations.
• Scenario on student struggling with depression symptoms and its impact on coursework and engaging in university /college life, highlighting active listening principles and how to refer.
• Scenario on a late extension request from a student, whose request tests the boundaries of your role and confidentiality principles.

80 – 90 minutes: Wrap-up and final questions

• Closing reflection on a whole-university approach, and the positive influence of informed, compassionate educational environments on student wellbeing.

A SharePoint link will be shared at the end of the session for access to resources and the slide deck.