Mental Health Support Policy

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT POLICY

Policy guidance and procedures to support students with mental health difficulties

Name of Policy / Mental Health Support Policy
Lead Department / Student Support and Wellbeing
Responsible Officer / Head of Student Support and Wellbeing
Date of approval / TBC
Corporate Strategy / This policy supports the University in achieving its Strategic Outcomes, particularly in relation to:

• Maximise student and stakeholder satisfaction
• Improve support for student retention and progression
• Strengthen operational efficiency and effectiveness and foster a culture of continuous improvement

Key Contacts /

• Levi Pay, Head of Student Support and Wellbeing

• Julie Rea, Student Support Manager (Counselling and Mental Health)

• Simon Lee, Student Support Manager (Policy, Projects and Inclusion)

THIS POLICY IS CURRENTLY A DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION (August 2014)

The University has a duty of care to all students currently enrolled at Northumbria as well as our applicants and alumni. We have in place a suite of policies which guide how we discharge this duty and this Mental Health Support Policy forms part of this. This version is a draft which updates our existing and longstanding policy and processes. If you have any feedback on this policy you can let us know by contacting Simon Lee, Student Support Manager (Policy, Projects and Inclusion) at

CONTENTS

Page 3 / Introduction
Page 4 / Scope and Responsibilities
Page7 / Policy Statement
Page 11 / Legal Context and Implications of Non-Compliance
Page 12 / Appendices

1.Introduction

1.1An increasing number of students are experiencing mental health difficulties, with our Counselling and Mental Health Support Team seeing a 10-15% increase year on year in numbers of people using the service. At Northumbria we have students with a range of mental health conditions both recognised mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia and anxiety, as well as other mental health issues such as homesickness and stress.

1.2Many students will arrive at Northumbria already knowing what support needs they have and will have made contact with support services during their application process. However, many may not know they could benefit from additional support or may develop a mental health condition whilst at University. Many of the most common mental health difficulties are known to develop in young people when they are in their late teens or early twenties and in some cases, the feelings of stress associated with starting University can be a pre-curser to developing mental health conditions. As such there is a likelihood that University students may need additional support to maintain good mental health.

1.3The University has legal, moral and business reasons for offering the best mental health and counselling support service it can. Our Counselling and Mental Health Support Team is a multi-disciplinary team, with a range of mental health backgrounds and specialisms. They offer a range of support and interventions for our students. Given that we work with in excess of 1200 students in our Counselling and Mental Health service throughout the year, it is imperative that we have a clear, coherent and supportive policy in place which supports and guides our activities.

2.Scope and Responsibilities

2.1Mental health can be defined as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”[1]. Mental illness on the other hand is a term which is generally used in a diagnostic capacity, and as a means of identifying illness in order to provide treatment. The term mental health difficulties is one of the preferred terms which can encompass many facets of mental illness and mental distress which will be used throughout this policy.

2.2For the purposes of this policy, the term “mental health difficulties” refers to:

• Long-term mental illnesses or psychiatric condition which may be classified as a disability in the Equality Act 2010
• Emerging mental health problems which may later develop into conditions which require ongoing support or intervention
• Temporary debilitating mental health difficulties or reactions which may impact on a student’s ability to fulfil their academic potential

2.3The University expects all staff to do all they can to support students with mental health difficulties and encourage them to play a full and active part in University life. All staff at Northumbria are expected to promote student wellbeing, enable all students to participate fully and successfully in University life and promote a positive andnon-discriminatory university community. Staff are also expected to be aware that students may disclose that they are experiencing mental health difficulties to them and to signpost the student in an effective and timely manner to the support services. Staff are expected to familiarise themselves with the referral processes as outlined in “When to Refer”.

2.4University staff are however expected to recognise the boundaries and limitations of their role and responsibilities in terms of student mental health. Staff are not expected to analyse or diagnose a problem and must always make students aware of the specialist support services on offer by guiding them either to Student Support and Wellbeing or their website, which includes an on-line registration process. Staff are able to contact a member of the Counselling and Mental Health Support Team for advice but must respect the strict confidentiality arrangements which surround the team.

2.5In order to support University staff in what can be an emotionally challenging situation, we have in place a three level approach to funnel students into support services.

Level one

In the vast majority of cases, when a student discloses they have an emotional or mental health issue they should be directed to the Counselling and Mental Health Support Team via the on-line registration form

Level two

If the student is unable or unwilling to register with Counselling And Mental Health Support Team, but staff feel that they could benefit from support, they should contact the Counselling And Mental Health Support Team on 0191 2274576 for expert advice and guidance.

Level three

If a student is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others (for example threatening to take their own or someone else’s life) staff should NOT contact COUNSELLING AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TEAM, but go straight to University Security on x3200

2.6The University expects all students to take care of themselves, including being conscious of their mental health. This includes taking responsibility for their own care, both physical and mental, especially in respect of adequate nutrition, rest, sleep and social activities, avoiding the use of illicit drugs and over-use of alcohol. If a student feels they are experiencing mental health difficulties they should contact the Counselling and Mental Health Support Team through any of the available means, ideally by completing an online registration form.

2.7It is recommended that all students register with a local GP practice at their earliest opportunity as very often GPs are the first point of contact if a student becomes unwell for any reason, or requires treatment. Registering with a GP helps with signposting to other specialist services and securing on-going support.

2.8The University’s Counselling and Mental Health Support Team employs Mental Health Practitioners and Counsellors who work in a variety of modalities to offer a dynamic and tailored service.

Counsellors

The Counselling And Mental Health Support Teamis an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The Counsellors are all accredited / senior accredited individual members of BACP or UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy), or working towards accreditation with one of these bodies.

Mental Health Practitioners

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) all hold a professional mental health qualification and come from different professions. They are all registered with a relevant professional body and are subjected to rigorous standards of professional development.

Both Counsellors and Mental Health Practitioners receive regular supervision. Supervision is provided in either a group or individual setting and to ensure confidentiality and rigour, is arranged through external providers.

2.9Our new model which has been very well received ensures we can offer the following:

• IAR (Immediate Appointment Required) appointments with either a Counsellor or Mental Health Practitioner – for students who present in crisis
• Workshops – a rolling programme which focusses on day-to-day pressures such as stress and social confidence
• Guided self help – geared towards students with shorter-term difficulties, thisis supported by the use of self-help materials
• Referral into an exercise programme – overseen by our sports centre
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing[2]
• Disability Academic Support[3]

The team is genuinely multidisciplinary with case notes being shared between the MHPs and Counsellors. Every weekday morning, a multidisciplinary meeting takes place to review the registrations received over the preceding 24 hours (as many as 15-20 each day) and decide on the type of support that would be most effective in each case. Students will be allocated support quickly, efficiently and on the basis of a proper assessment of risk – in general, receiving confirmation of their support offer within one working day.

2.10This policy guides the work of the Counselling And Mental Health Support Teambut its ethos and framework is applicable to all University staff.

2.11The Counselling and Mental Health Support Team provide a range of training throughout the year to support the implementation of this policy. This training can be accessed via the University’s People Development webpages or arranged on request by contacting the Student Support Manager (Counselling and Mental Health).

3.Policy Statement

3.1This policy is comprehensive and guides the University’s activities in respect of the support we offer students with mental health concerns. The support often begins before students arrive at Northumbria and continues throughout their time at University and in some cases as outlined in the Equality Act, our responsibilities to them continue once they have become Alumni.

Identification of students with mental health difficulties

3.2Students may disclose they have mental health difficulties or contact the Counselling and Mental Health Support Team in a number of different ways. If a student discloses mental health difficulties as a disability at the application stage they will be contacted by the Disability Support Team with information about the support on offer and invited to register with the service. If a student registers with the Counselling and Mental Health Team whilst they are a student enrolled with Northumbria, they will complete an online registration form and the team will be in contact with them within two working days to arrange an appointment. In line with the policy and the When to Refer guideline, staff are required to ensure that all students are made aware of the support services available and to encourage students to access these services if needed.

3.3Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to the team and what is said in a session, in normal circumstances will remain in the room. However, there are rare exceptional circumstances where confidentiality can be broken. These exceptions would only be made for the purpose of public interest, law, our compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 or in order to ensure compliance with other aspects of the Duty of Care or Safeguarding Policy Frameworks. These exceptions might include situations in which a person’s life is in danger (yours or someone else’s), a situation in which there is active child abuse, a serious crime, active terrorism or issues affecting the safe practice of those on professional training courses. This list is not exhaustive. If one of these rare situations arises the clinician will attempt to contact the student to discuss how the boundaries of confidentiality will be kept and, if necessary, extended. Further information on confidentiality can be found in our agreement document, attached at appendix 1 to this policy.

3.4In line with this confidentiality agreement it may be the case that whilst staff can refer students to the Counselling And Mental Health Support Team, they may not find out if they have accessed the service nor how they are progressing. In turn if a student discloses that they have a mental health difficulty but refuses to allow the information to be passed on, or refuses to make contact with the Counselling And Mental Health Support Team, they must be advised and accept that the support provided for them will be limited.

Disciplinary procedures

3.5All students are subject to rules and disciplinary procedures which are outlined in the student handbook. In particular, inappropriate or offensive behaviour will be taken very seriously and the appropriate procedures will be followed. However if a student has mental health difficulties this should be taken into account prior to instigating any procedures. Although not normally party to the disciplinary process the Student Support Manager (Counselling and Mental Health) and other members of Counselling And Mental Health Support Teamare available to assess the student’s mental health status and able to give an opinion as to whether this has been a contributing factor. In such cases, alternative actions may be considered such as reviewing the level of support required by the student. In all cases where the student appears to have mental health difficulties the Counselling and Mental Health Support Team must be consulted before disciplinary procedures are instigated.

3.6Providing that support has been put in place for the student in line with their mental health needs, if their behaviour persists, then normal disciplinary procedures may be appropriate. Alternatively in particular circumstances there is scope for a temporary suspension from the programme of study. Again, the Counselling and Mental Health Support Team should be consulted prior to any action.

Teaching and Assessment Methods

3.7All academic colleagues are encouraged to develop a creative and flexible programme of teaching and assessing as this is known to have benefits for mental health, particularly in reducing stress and mental distress for all students. For further guidance see the University’s Academic Support Policy for disabled students.

3.8Whilst the University is legally and morally responsible for fully supporting students with mental health difficulties and in many cases making reasonable adjustments to support their participating fully in University life, it must be noted that the maintenance of academic standards is of paramount importance. In seeking to support students with mental health difficulties appropriately and fully, the University recognises that it is not exhibiting leniency or applying lower standards but allowing students with mental health difficulties to compete on equal terms with all their peers.

3.9The Guidance Tutor role is of particular importance and the University expects guidance tutors to form a positive working relationship with all their students and to be able to identify and offer additional help to those with mental health difficulties, referring them to the support services available.

The Disabled Student’s Support Recommendations (DSSR) report

3.10Some students with mental health difficulties may receive a DSSR report which contains recommendations for what Faculty staff need to do to support the student. The purpose of the support recommended is in line with this policy i.e. to level the playing field between students with mental health difficulties and their peers rather than give them an unfair advantage. The student will be asked to sign the DSSR to confirm they have agreed the content and are happy for it to be shared with the Faculty

3.11The DSSR makes strong recommendations for Faculty staff and complying with these are the easiest way for the Faculty to discharge its legal obligations to the student. Therefore if Faculty staff decide not to implement a recommendation they must be aware that should there be a complaint or appeal, they may be required to justify to oversight bodies why an alternative approach has been taken and how this meets the requirements of the Equality Act. However as mentioned above, it is possible that DSSR recommendations are covered by inclusive practice already in place in the Faculty. Where this is the case this should be communicated clearly, ideally in writing to the student.

When a student becomes mentally unwell

3.12There may be occasions when a student’s mental health deteriorates to such a degree that they are unable to attend University. If this occurs, the student, or (with the Student’s permission) their main carer should be encouraged to keep academic staff informed of their progress so appropriate support can be arranged. On these occasions both the student and Faculty should consider alternative means of communication, to enable the student to continue their studies from home, such as email support. Students can also access Blackboardvia the Universitywebsite. The Student Support Manager (Counselling and Mental Health) or relevant practitioner within Counselling And Mental Health Support Teamshould be kept informed.

3.13It is important to note that lengthy periods of absence due to illness may have an impact on funding and immigration status. For further information, contact the Welfare and International Team in Student Support and Wellbeing.

Hospital admissions

3.14If a student requires a hospital stay as a result of a mental health condition the Student Support Manager (Counselling and Mental Health) or a Mental Health Practitionerwill remain in contact with the hospital and the student and will liaise with Faculty staff about the student’s plans to return to study with the student’s consent. The Student Support Manager/ MHP will work with the student and Faculty staff to make any changes to support packages to facilitate the student’s return to University life. This may include liaison with external agencies where appropriate.