Student Minds
  • About
    • What we do >
      • Our strategy
      • Our impact
    • Our team >
      • Trustees
      • Clinical Advisors
      • University Mental Health Charter Assessors
      • Student Advisors
      • Anti-Racism Council
    • Our supporters
  • Find Support
    • Support for me >
      • Support at your university and further
      • University staff-run workshops
      • Student stories
    • Support for a friend >
      • Starting a conversation
      • Looking after yourself
    • Support for parents
    • Cost of living
    • Resources >
      • Men’s Mental Health
      • The Wellbeing Thesis
      • Transitions >
        • Transition into University
        • Know Before You Go
        • Transitions for staff
      • Starting University
      • Exam stress
      • LGBTQ+
      • Looking after your mental wellbeing
      • Year Abroad
      • Student finance
      • Support through a family health crisis
  • Get Involved
    • Student opportunities
    • Staff opportunities
    • General supporter opportunities
  • Training
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Research and publications >
      • Reports >
        • Student Mental Health Manifesto
        • Climate change and student mental health
        • Part-time, distance learner and commuter students
        • International Students
        • Life in a Pandemic
        • Supporting Students with Eating Disorders
        • The Role of an Academic
        • LGBTQ+ Research​
        • Student Voices
        • Graduate Wellbeing
        • Grand Challenges
        • University Challenge
        • Looking After a Mate
        • Summary of HEFCE’s Report
      • Consultation Responses
      • Insight Briefings >
        • Student Mental Health in a Pandemic >
          • Life in a pandemic: Wave II findings
        • Disabled students and Mental Health
      • Student Advisory Committee Reflections
      • Good practice guides >
        • Student Living
        • Co-producing Mental Health Initiatives With Student Volunteers
        • Podcasting About Mental Health
        • Co-producing mental health strategies with students
        • Supporting Male Student Mental Health
  • Support Us
    • Fundraise >
      • Step into Spring
      • Plan Your Own Event
      • Fundraise at university
      • Fundraise at work
      • Challenge Events
      • Paying in money
      • Fundraising Resources
    • Corporate Partners
  • Donate
    • Online shopping
    • Payroll giving
    • Universities
Research and publications

Co-producing mental health strategies with students

Co-producing mental health strategies with students:
A Guide for the Higher Education Sector

Students with lived experience of mental health difficulties are experts by experience.
​

In order to identify the full range of work necessary to improve mental health and wellbeing at our Higher Education institutions, we must listen to students. Students, both with and without the experience of mental illness, should be part of every stage of developing mental health and wellbeing strategies. This practical toolkit aims to support those leading on strategy development, with the tools to find meaningful and effective solutions with students. Find out how to get started:

Our guide explores

  • Why co-production is so powerful in developing mental health and wellbeing strategies.
  • How co-production strategies can lead to improved wellbeing outcomes and wider benefits for both staff and students
  • Overcoming barriers to engagement and engaging different groups and communities of students
  • A range of tools for leading co-production work at universities
Picture
Picture

Download the guide


Project Background​

Since 2009 Student Minds has delivered a range of student engagement activities across the UK to explore student and staff experiences around their mental health and supporting others. Funded by a successful partnership bid to HEFCE’s (now Office for Students) Catalyst Fund addressing barriers to student success, three universities in the process of developing mental health strategies partnered with Student Minds and UUK to explore the process of developing a university-wide approach to mental health, and to develop tools and learning of use to the wider HE sector. Alongside this, UUK is developing a validated mental health and wellbeing audit, and creating a knowledge and practice exchange platform. This particular report is an output of this partnership project, informed by piloting different ideas for co-producing strategy with students at The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), Cardiff University, and the University of York.
Who is this guide for?

This resource is intended to support Higher Education Institutions to make a long term commitment to empower and value students’ experiences as central to the solution to improving mental health at our universities and colleges. The intended audience is those leading on mental health strategy development at universities, senior leadership, Student Union (SU) staff, SU officers, Student Support Service staff, Accommodation management, and other stakeholders in this space. It may also be of use to NHS and third sector staff working with universities on student mental health. In working with external partners such as the NHS, universities can contribute to support students in a way that is embedded in the local offer. In order to do this in a way that meets the needs of students, students must be engaged.

Have your say:

We want to hear your experiences - please share your work with us at [email protected]  

If you are interested in this report in the context of working in or with a Students’ Union - please contact [email protected] for further information on our developing Students’ Union Support Programme.  

< Back to research and publications
About
Get in contact
Donate
Privacy statement
Jobs & Opportunities
Feedback and Complaints

Student Minds is registered with Companies House, 07493445
Student Minds is a Charity registered in England and Wales, 1142783
Picture
Sign up to our newsletter

  • About
    • What we do >
      • Our strategy
      • Our impact
    • Our team >
      • Trustees
      • Clinical Advisors
      • University Mental Health Charter Assessors
      • Student Advisors
      • Anti-Racism Council
    • Our supporters
  • Find Support
    • Support for me >
      • Support at your university and further
      • University staff-run workshops
      • Student stories
    • Support for a friend >
      • Starting a conversation
      • Looking after yourself
    • Support for parents
    • Cost of living
    • Resources >
      • Men’s Mental Health
      • The Wellbeing Thesis
      • Transitions >
        • Transition into University
        • Know Before You Go
        • Transitions for staff
      • Starting University
      • Exam stress
      • LGBTQ+
      • Looking after your mental wellbeing
      • Year Abroad
      • Student finance
      • Support through a family health crisis
  • Get Involved
    • Student opportunities
    • Staff opportunities
    • General supporter opportunities
  • Training
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Research and publications >
      • Reports >
        • Student Mental Health Manifesto
        • Climate change and student mental health
        • Part-time, distance learner and commuter students
        • International Students
        • Life in a Pandemic
        • Supporting Students with Eating Disorders
        • The Role of an Academic
        • LGBTQ+ Research​
        • Student Voices
        • Graduate Wellbeing
        • Grand Challenges
        • University Challenge
        • Looking After a Mate
        • Summary of HEFCE’s Report
      • Consultation Responses
      • Insight Briefings >
        • Student Mental Health in a Pandemic >
          • Life in a pandemic: Wave II findings
        • Disabled students and Mental Health
      • Student Advisory Committee Reflections
      • Good practice guides >
        • Student Living
        • Co-producing Mental Health Initiatives With Student Volunteers
        • Podcasting About Mental Health
        • Co-producing mental health strategies with students
        • Supporting Male Student Mental Health
  • Support Us
    • Fundraise >
      • Step into Spring
      • Plan Your Own Event
      • Fundraise at university
      • Fundraise at work
      • Challenge Events
      • Paying in money
      • Fundraising Resources
    • Corporate Partners
  • Donate
    • Online shopping
    • Payroll giving
    • Universities