Supporting Students with Complex Mental Health Difficulties January 2011 Kate Tindle Alan Phillips Kim Dent Brown Supporting Students with Complex Mental Health Difficulties Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1 Executive summary ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 8 3 Literature review........................................................................................................................................ 10 3.1 Quantitative data ........................................................................................................................................... 10 3.2 Impact................................................................................................................................................................. 11 3.3 Recommendations........................................................................................................................................ 13 Attention to the context of Higher Education .................................................................................... 13 Collaboration .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Therapeutic options .................................................................................................................................... 14 Developmental and relational aspects .................................................................................................. 15 Service user involvement ........................................................................................................................... 15 Implications for staff training ................................................................................................................... 15 4 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................................17 4.1 Aims and objectives ......................................................................................................................................17 4.2 Scope ..................................................................................................................................................................17 4.3 Assumptions ....................................................................................................................................................17 4.4 Definition of „students with complex mental health needs‟ .......................................................... 18 4.5 Working group ............................................................................................................................................... 19 4.6 uSpace ............................................................................................................................................................. 20 4.7 Questionnaires .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Questionnaire for working group and SMHLG .................................................................................. 21 Questionnaire to all students ................................................................................................................... 21 Questionnaire to all staff ............................................................................................................................ 22 4.8 Focus groups ................................................................................................................................................... 22 Staff focus groups......................................................................................................................................... 22 Student focus groups .................................................................................................................................. 23 2 4.9 Clemson Intern project............................................................................................................................... 23 4.10 Involvement of research professionals in data analysis ................................................................ 24 4.11 Developing recommendations ................................................................................................................ 24 5 Results..............................................................................................................................................................25 5.1 Report from Centre for Psychological Services Research (CPSR) ............................................25 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................25 Executive summary ..................................................................................................................................... 26 Results .............................................................................................................................................................. 28 Impact on staff members .......................................................................................................................... 45 Current experiences of the support system ...................................................................................... 47 Gaps to be filled, proposals for development .................................................................................... 51 5.2 Working group‟s discussions and Clemson Intern‟s report......................................................... 59 Working group‟s discussions ................................................................................................................... 59 Developing a shared care plan approach. ........................................................................................... 59 Student led (peer) support ..................................................................................................................... 60 Early intervention ......................................................................................................................................... 60 Improved dissemination of information .............................................................................................. 60 Support for staff/ recognition for work undertaken ..................................................................... 60 Working Group‟s summary of „external‟ help available to students .......................................... 61 Clemson Intern‟s report ............................................................................................................................ 62 6 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................... 64 6.1 The experience of complex mental health difficulties – institutionally and individually…64 6.2 Where do students get their support? ................................................................................................. 66 6.3 How do students and staff see the support on offer? ................................................................... 66 6.4 Relationships - at the core of supporting students .........................................................................67 6.5 Ideas for change ............................................................................................................................................67 7 Recommendations .....................................................................................................................................71 7.1 A strategic purpose for our work with students ................................................................................71 7.2 Principles for change .....................................................................................................................................71 7.3 Recommendations for action .................................................................................................................... 72 Collaboration ................................................................................................................................................... 72 Early intervention ........................................................................................................................................... 72 Student involvement ..................................................................................................................................... 73 Supporting staff – build their capacity and confidence ................................................................... 74 3 8 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 75 8.1 Summary..........................................................................................................................................................