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Mental health in higher education: faculty staff survey on supporting students with mental health needs

Pras Ramluggun (Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK)
Olga Kozlowska (Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK)
Sarah Mansbridge (Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK)
Margaret Rioga (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health, Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, UK)
Mahmood Anjoyeb (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health, Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, UK)

Health Education

ISSN: 0965-4283

Article publication date: 5 September 2022

Issue publication date: 7 November 2022

702

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how faculty staff on health and social care programmes support students with mental health issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a qualitative survey design to gain in-depth information on faculty staff experiences. Seventy-one faculty staff at two universities in the South East of England out of an eligible population of 115 staff responded to an anonymous online questionnaire which were thematically analysed.

Findings

The findings indicated that faculty staff faced uncertainties in providing support to students with mental health needs. They reported tensions between their academic, professional and pastoral roles. There was a wide recognition that supporting students was physically and emotionally demanding for faculty staff and especially challenging when their roles and expectations were unclear. This was compounded by lack of explicit guidelines and an apparent severed connection between faculty staff and student support services.

Practical implications

A need for clearly defined roles and responsibilities for faculty staff in supporting students with mental health needs including a review of their pastoral role were identified. The study reinforces the need for effective collaborative arrangements and collective decision making and clearer procedures in the planning and implementation of students' personal support plans. A concerted effort into adopting a transpersonal approach which incorporates mental health staff awareness training, restorative spaces for reflection and supportive pathways for faculty staff are recommended.

Originality/value

This paper provides rare empirical evidence of faculty staff views on their role in supporting students with mental health needs on health and social care programmes.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This work was supported by the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery (Award Number: 1175-RK01395)

Citation

Ramluggun, P., Kozlowska, O., Mansbridge, S., Rioga, M. and Anjoyeb, M. (2022), "Mental health in higher education: faculty staff survey on supporting students with mental health needs", Health Education, Vol. 122 No. 6, pp. 601-616. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-02-2022-0011

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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