September marks the start of an exciting and life-changing journey for thousands of young and not-so-young people, as they start university. Many students, however, struggle with the initial transition from school or college into university, and within the first few weeks question whether higher education is for them.
In response to this challenge, Student Minds has collaborated with Canadian organisation TeenMentalHealth.Org (led by internationally-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Stan Kutcher) to ensure that this period of transition is met with information, support and guidance through the development of two new online resources for UK students.
These resources support many of the priorities set out in Universities UK’s Step Change framework, aimed at supporting HEIs to take a whole organisation approach to the mental health of their students, young people and staff, so that it is embedded across all policies, cultures, curricula and practice.
The resources have been created as a way to help students and staff address some important things that are not usually talked about. Practical tips such as ways to adjust to independent learning and how to manage time around exams and assignment deadlines, together with information about other complex issues such as building resilience, health and well-being, and matters associated with how identities might be forming or changing and how this could affect relationships and friendships.
Information is written in language aimed at students. ‘Know Before You Go’ provides age-appropriate guidance to young people before they leave school or college, and ‘Transitions’ contains information to support the first few years in higher education.
The guides contain a range of resources, with student testimonials and links to blog posts to show real-life stories from those wanting to share their experiences and advice.
Staff and students can access the resources and use them in a variety of ways. For example, for student mentors to be able to provide practical advice to students before they enrol. Or disseminated via student accommodation providers and other university spaces to help students and staff. These are useful resources for personal academic tutors too, and course leaders might make them available on Blackboard course pages.
Used alongside the University’s own publication Signposting Student Support: A Guide for University Staff, produced by Student Services about the range of support and advice available to students at the University of Worcester, these are very useful resources for all staff.