Content note: This episode contains discussion of sensitive topics including suicide. If you need support with the topics discussed in this episode, there are organisations such as Mind (0300 123 3393), Samaritans (116 123) or Student Minds that can help you in complete confidence. 

More and more students are seeking support for their mental health, and in response, we’ve seen a whole host of new initiatives to better meet that need. The creation of a Higher Education Student Support Champion. The Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce. A suite of guidance on suicide-safer universities. An innovative scheme in which Manchester’s universities collaborate with the NHS to improve student mental health outcomes. 

But what are these initiatives, where have they come from and what do student accommodation teams need to know? We’re getting into it in this month’s episode of Accommodation Matters. 

Our expert guests aren’t just talking about the work that’s happening to support student mental health – they’re leading the work themselves. Hosted by Jenny Shaw, this month’s panel includes: 

• Professor Edward Peck, Vice Chancellor at Nottingham Trent University and the Government’s Higher Education Student Support Champion for England 
• Professor Jo Smith OBE, Emeritus Professor in Early Intervention and Psychosis at University of Worcester 
• Dr Simon Merrywest, Director for the Student Experience at University of Manchester 

Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 30th April and 1st May 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc. 

Resources 

You can find out more about the role of the Higher Education Student Support Champion here, and the Higher Education Mental Health Implementation Taskforce here. 

The University Mental Health Charter can be found on Student Minds’ website. 

Universities UK’s Suicide-safer Universities guidance document can be downloaded here. 

Read more about the Greater Manchester Universities Mental Health Service here. 

Learn more about R;pple’s suicide prevention technology from their website. 

A number of mental health and suicide awareness charities are referenced during the episode – we have listed links to their websites below: 

• James’ Place
• Papyrus
• Olly’s Future
• The Mary O’Gara Foundation