REF:66-2010-328612 - Mental health and support services

Your comment: We are a group of students concerned about mental health and support in the student population. We feel quite strongly that Student Support Services is not allocating their money correctly and is authentically advertising to prospective and new students that the support the offer is plentiful and good. In the following, we will touch on three points which we think should be considered in order to provide a better support network. Togetherall/Big White Wall We think that this is a waste of money by the University. It offers virtually no support, other than providing a platform to voice issues and feelings - which most people have access to through anonymous social media, such as Reddit, or their own diary. We don't know anyone who uses the platform, because it adds virtually nothing. It also encourages people who are lacking a social support system to stay online with other anonymous people, rather than going out to find people in real life. Regarding the little tips it gives on mental health and stressors - virtually all of these can be found through a quick google search. Paying for this service is a waste of money which could be allocated more effectively into other things. Investing in a specialized sexual assault counsellor The amount of times we have heard horror stories about how students issues and experiences regarding sexual assault have been handled by THE COUNSELLORS employed by Student Support is outrageous. Being dismissed, blamed, or compared to other survivors are common themes. At this point, the student community is well aware, that if you get assaulted, Student Support won't help you and you're better off getting help privately. This causes a reluctance to seek help in the students, and desperately needs to be addressed! One thing that could be done is to hire an experienced and specialized counsellor for those who have been (sexually) assaulted, and who is equipped to deal with trauma issues. Covid related mental health issues Student Support has not been doing enough to spread resources and hands-on tips of how to handle independent learning. The lack of lectures and seminars is a problem which leads to students maintaining bad sleeping patterns, which lead them to get behind on their work and have difficulty managing their social life with work. Student Support should circulate tips/links to websites and maybe offer 1 to 1 support for those feeling overwhelmed. This is related to the limited study space in the library (which closes at around 5!), which means that the vast majority of people have to study at home which might not be conducive to their studies. Guidance and help is needed to do this, especially for first years.

Our response:

We appreciate the time given to raising concerns about how Student Support and Careers Services deliver wellbeing support and we welcome ideas from students to help us consider the future delivery of services. The Student Wellbeing Service aims to deliver a range of advice and support via a stepped approach to support and skills development. Students may present to the Service with a low to moderate level of mental health & wellbeing or perhaps more severe and enduring possibly complex mental health issue. The services and support we provide and the way the Service operates reflects this diversity of need.

Togetherall

We appreciate that other social media platforms may duplicate certain aspects of Togetherall’s provision. However, as a Service it is important for us to ensure that we are mindful of the quality of the provision and the views of students represented by the Students’ Union. Togetherall is a Quality Care Commissioned (CQC), internationally recognised platform, and our subscription to it was supported and encouraged by Aberystwyth Students’ Union. Some 300 Aberystwyth Students use the Togetherall platform each month. Students spend on average 3.5 hours on the platform with nearly 100 assessments a month being completed. At a cost equating to approximately 70p per head we believe Togetherall provides a valuable 24/7 on line network and outlet for expression during these times when in person interaction is being restricted.

Investing in a specialized sexual assault counsellor

It is important that students impacted by these issues seek appropriate and specialist support and the Wellbeing Service directs students to such organisations as provide this. The University also offers free short term counselling (through an external provider) for issues that are not academic related. Any student who feels they have not received adequate support should contact the Student Wellbeing Service Manager in the first instance so that the matter can be investigated.

Covid related mental health issues

The Student Wellbeing Service is available to support, on a 121 basis, those students who are facing wellbeing issues in respect of Covid 19. In addition, specific information in respect of Covid 19 is available here. The Service also delivers a range of presentations/workshops to students on healthy behaviours (for example, sleep patterns) and links to additional resources to support healthy behaviours can be found in the A-Z of wellbeing section of the Wellbeing Service webpages.

The University also provides student learning support through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Further information can be found about learning support can be found here.

A range of advice and guidance on using technology for learning is also provided by the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit based in Information Services and covers for example, issues such as using Blackboard and use of MS teams. Further details can be found here