HE Providers' Policies and Practices to Support Student Mental Health. Research Report

The proportion of higher education (HE) students reporting a mental health condition to their university has been increasing over recent years. Young people in particular are susceptible to poor mental health as they transition into adulthood. The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned IFF Research to undertake a survey and qualitative follow-up of HE providers to understand the range of institutional policies and practices they use to support student mental health and wellbeing. Questions in this study centred around the extent to which providers have adopted mental health and wellbeing at a strategic level, the practices adopted by HE providers in supporting students' mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention and how these are designed and evaluated. This study builds upon DfE research in 2019/2013 which provided an in-depth study of HE institutions' approaches to supporting students including the range of services provided. For the most part throughout this report findings are reported separately for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Further Education Colleges (FECs) and Private Providers (PPs).