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While Student Minds has always been committed to being an inclusive employer, in 2020 we set an ambition to be a truly anti-racist organisation. This work is not easy, it requires ongoing effort, courage and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. But we are dedicated. We hope by sharing our story we can motivate others across the charity sector to recognise the role organisations can play to foster inclusive and diverse communities. Organisational growthAt the beginning, there was a ‘fear of doing things wrong’ because we didn't dedicate enough time and resources. However, in 2020, we saw a shift. We could see the difficulties in the sector to address intersectionality within student communities, and like many, faced our own challenges to ensure staff could thrive, heavily influenced by campaigns like #CharitySoWhite. We could no longer make excuses for the lack of progress and realised we just had to try. Rather than trying to simply put plasters on our problems, we needed a strategy in place to see radical and sustained culture change at Student Minds. Our initial approachWe started talking publicly about our commitment, including our public response to the Sewell report in 2021. We focused internally, interrogating our communications and recruitment of staff and volunteers. We looked at our programmes, including our University Mental Health Charter, calling on our Programme Member universities to consider intersectionality in all areas of teaching and learning. We started having Equality, Diversity & Inclusion conversations as a team. As a predominately white organisation, we struggled to know what our role could be for fear of recreating inequalities or acting like a ‘saviour’. When our first anti-racism task group was set up in 2022 only 2 members out of 8 were from a racialised background. The progress was limited as we still didn’t have the relevant expertise or collective view. However it was important that we tried and didn’t shy away from making mistakes. All organisations need to start somewhere, and it will always be imperfect but intention is paramount. During these challenging early stages, it was authentic leadership from all parts of the organisation that kept us engaged. Our CEO, Rosie, was personally invested in the work and sponsored it from the start. Krishna Lad, our previous Design and Digital Manager worked tirelessly at the start and Aneeska Sohal, our current Anti Racism Council (ARC) Trustee representative, provided Rosie with the necessary strategic steer and mentorship. Our Communications team were pioneers who kept us motivated. Too many individuals to name drew on their lived experiences and really pushed us to be critical about the way we operate. We recognise that we did not have the best structures in place to help staff and volunteers who were supporting this work outside of their usual responsibilities, and know this could have had a negative impact, and we have learned from this. We want to thank all of those who have now moved on from the organisation, as without your initial support we would not have been able to start this progress. Meaningful co-creationThe reality was we needed financial investment to begin authentic collaboration. When developing Student Space and our research, we partnered with organisations led by racialised communities such as Black People Talk, Taraki and Muslim Youth Helpline to offer tailored support to students during the Covid-19 pandemic. We were able to work with an external consultant, Steve Gilbert, who provided guidance and training for the team and helped us to understand our purpose and set up sustainable strategies for the future. We recruited a steering group of Black students to develop an online content package for Black students, led by Colourful Minds and sector expert Andy Owusu. This was incredibly successful for us to be able to provide support for Black students using direct lived experiences, and as we were still struggling to know how we could support Black students in a way that felt meaningful and authentic, it helped us to better define what we could do to meaningfully support more students from racialised communities. However we spent a lot longer than we expected in the planning stage of this work, and by the beginning of 2024, there was frustration and a call from our stakeholders to be bolder. Anti Racism Council We set up an Anti-Racism Council (ARC) who hold us to account and support us to develop a clear vision at Student Minds. Reflections from our ARC members have highlighted that we have fallen short of our original expectations, in recent meetings they’ve emphasised that:
We are incredibly grateful to the incredible experts within our ARC who continue to challenge us as we develop this work. With financial investment, a leadership team fully behind our ambitions and a staff team eager to deal with the messiness of this change, we feel confident that we can live up to the expectations of our ARC. Next stepsWe are now ready to build on our positive foundations to move to a place of action as an organisation. Part of this commitment involves our public declaration of our initial commitments as an organisation before our action plan is launched. CEO (Organisational Sponsor) commitment
The CEO commits to consistently and publicly advocating for anti-racist practices within the organisation and wider sector. They commit to regular communications, holding themselves accountable to anti-racist values and ensuring that people and financial investments are long-term commitments. They will provide a yearly update on the progress. ARC commitment
The Anti Racism Council commits to 1) monitoring the organisation’s progress on anti-racism initiatives, holding the organisation accountable to its commitments, and not being afraid to challenge failures. 2) developing and publishing an action plan identifying our multi-year plan, complementing our existing 10-year strategy. Student Minds staff and Trustee commitment
Staff and Trustees commit to acting fairly and compassionately, embracing Student Minds' values, and working inclusively. This includes treating others with respect and dignity, continuously learning and unlearning, holding each other accountable for EDI commitments, and challenging actions that undermine such commitments, or the charity's values. At Student Minds, our role is twofold. We have a responsibility to ensure not only our staff, but our Trainer/Assessor networks, our partners and supporters, fundraisers, freelancers, volunteers, consultants and all other stakeholders have the ability to truly thrive working with us. They must have the investment, space and permission to be unapologetic, to challenge us, and to help us shape a better Student Minds. We then have a role to play to raise awareness and identify solutions for health inequalities that racialised students and staff face. We know we can support this work and welcome further external collaborations with ARC to continue to champion this across the sector. Being anti-racist means a commitment towards centering racial justice at the heart of the organisation. Being anti-racist requires a complete shift in how we work with communities while acknowledging our positions in a white supremacist system. We know we must begin with individual action, whilst recognising that only structural change can address inequalities. This work must move beyond a one-off project, and we must embed it into our ethos. We know change is needed, and it can’t just be seen, it has to be felt to be done. We will continue to persist and dream bigger for Student Minds and for the communities, we aim to support to ensure that no student is held back by their mental health. Timeline of events
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Yesterday, the government announced that the cap on tuition fees will be rising to £9,535 per year from 2025 and maintenance loan entitlements are also set to rise. Beyond this, the Education Secretary confirmed that further proposals for reform will be published in the coming months. What we’re calling forThis April, Student Minds set out our vision for a future where every student can thrive in our Student Mental Health Manifesto. In it, we highlighted the need for maintenance loans to increase, accounting for years of real-term cuts. We also called for thresholds for maintenance loan entitlements to increase, for financial support for part-time students, and for the reintroduction of maintenance grants to be explored. More needs to be done on maintenance fundingWhile yesterday’s increase to maintenance loan entitlements is a helpful start, it is not enough to make up for the significant shortfall that students and their loved ones have been forced to account for in recent years - often by taking on unsustainable working hours, further debts, or risky income-generating activities. Given recent findings that for the average student, maintenance loans fall short by £504 a month, this 3% increase - or a maximum of £414 per year - still leaves a significant hole in students’ budgets. We are also disappointed to see no mention of additional support for the most disadvantaged students, and continue to call for the government to consider the reintroduction of maintenance grants as a priority. Tuition fees and sector financesThe picture concerning tuition fees is more complex. We understand that universities require urgent financial relief given tuition fees were frozen in 2017 despite inflation, and that an increase offers a much-needed lifeline. However, we question whether students and graduates should be the ones to foot this bill - even if only a minority of students will ever pay back this additional cost. A Student Mental Health Manifesto winWe’re pleased to hear of the government’s intention to undertake more fundamental reviews of the higher education system, with a focus on ensuring it remains fair and accessible to all. This is in line with our Student Mental Health Manifesto recommendation that the government commits to a review of UK higher education funding, finding a new sustainable system which does not place the additional burden on students or staff. We hope to see a funding model implemented which secures the long-term sustainability of our world-leading universities, whilst also ensuring that every student who wants to can access higher education with the financial support they need. We also call for a more progressive repayment model, which takes a proportionate, fair and manageable approach for all graduates. Student Minds will keep championing our university communitiesAs higher education reform remains in the political spotlight, Student Minds will continue to advocate for you. Our mission is for a future where no student is held back by their mental health. For this to become a reality, both students and universities must have access to the financial support and investment they need.
Today, we tuned in to the new government’s Autumn Budget, keen to hear about changes that will be made to support our 2.8 million students in UK higher education. This follows years of financial hardship, insufficient maintenance funding, and a spiralling cost-of-living crisis which saw students skipping meals, unable to buy necessary study supplies, and suffering through cold winters without heating and suitable housing. Student finances are a student mental health issue, with financial difficulties being a predictor for greater mental illness among the student population. Pay increases for many studentsWe strongly welcome the government’s progress in bringing pay equity to many students, narrowing the gap between the national minimum wage and living wage for 18-20 year-olds. This, combined with an increase in the national minimum wage for both age brackets, will help students in part-time work make ends meet. This is significant progress toward our Student Mental Health Manifesto recommendation for everyone aged 18 and over to be entitled to the same national minimum wage and for the government to increase this minimum wage in line with the Real Living Wage. With a long-term plan confirmed to achieve a single adult minimum wage, we’re looking forward to further progress in future. Budget increase for the NHSWe also welcome the news of a total £22.6bn budget increase for the NHS. The Lord Darzi review showed the critical state of our health service. Its findings reaffirmed much of what our students have told us about spending years on waiting lists and becoming more and more unwell as a result. On top of this, students in healthcare disciplines are currently providing hundreds of hours of free labour to our National Health Service, which in turn limits their ability to take up paid, part-time work. We are keen to hear more details of how this money will be spent and in particular, what investment will be made into mental health support. We want to see higher staffing levels with reasonable workloads for NHS workers, specialist support for students, and bursaries for healthcare students on placement. A higher education sector in financial turmoilDespite this, there was no specific mention of the higher education sector or students within the budget. We know the government has a lot to do but universities need financial support, and they need it now. Our world-leading institutions are facing a financial sustainability crisis, with students and staff paying the price. Student maintenance funding continues to be compromised by years of real-terms cuts without any relief in sight. Forgetting about students is an expensive mistakeStudents are not a small demographic. One in two school-leavers go on to study at university and millions more are university graduates. Students are our future social workers, teachers, scientists, doctors, and leaders. Everyone knows someone in higher education, be it a friend, family member, or co-worker. It’s not just wrong to forget students, it doesn’t make economic sense. Mental health concerns are the single biggest cause of long-term sickness in the workforce and cost the UK economy £300bn per year. We need our students to be well supported not just so they succeed at university, but they can thrive in our wider society. When doing the right thing also saves money, it’s a no-brainer. Rising transport costs add to everyday expensesFinally, we heard how the price cap for bus fees is increasing from £2 to £3 for a single fare. At a time when students are already being forced to cut back on the essentials - and indeed, where we should be focusing on cutting emissions and encouraging sustainable modes of transport - this is a step in the wrong direction. Only 18% of students who commute by necessity receive any money from student support funds or grants to alleviate these costs - meaning more than four in five could be directly affected by this change. We’ll keep putting you firstWe’ll keep advocating for student’s interests, including tackling the economic factors that drive poor student mental health. We need the government to meet us halfway and properly fund mental health services and higher education institutions. You can find out more about our Student Mental Health Manifesto or how to get involved with our work.
Student Minds collaborates with Mind Data to enhance mental health support for university students18/10/2024 Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity is proud to announce a new collaboration with Mind Data, a pioneering platform in digital mental health support. Together, we are working to provide students with accessible, tailored and clinically approved wellbeing resources, empowering them to manage their wellbeing with the help of data-driven insights and expert guidance from Student Space. Student Space by Student Minds makes it easier for students and supporters to find the support that they need, with a range of trusted information, services and tools to help manage the uncertainty of student life. This exciting collaboration allows Student Minds to integrate our Student Space resources into the Mind Data platform, which offers students an innovative digital journal to record and track their thoughts and emotions. Through this collaboration, students using the Mind Data platform can access relevant Student Space articles based on their journal entries, providing them with the information and support they need, when they need it. The Mind Data platform securely analyses users' journal entries to provide insights that enhance self-awareness and enable mental health professionals to offer more informed, personalised care. With the addition of Student Space resources, students will now benefit from both real-time emotional tracking from Mind Data and expert resources from Student Minds, creating a comprehensive, proactive approach to mental health support. "Empowering students to build their own mental health toolkit is one of our priorities at Student Minds and our work with Mind Data will help do just that. By combining their data-driven platform with our reliable Student Space resources, we can provide students with timely and relevant advice to support them through the uncertainty of student life." Izzy Watkins, Senior Programme Manager (Student Space) at Student Minds "I'm excited about the potential this collaborative work will bring to improving the mental wellbeing of students. As someone who struggled with suicidal depression during my own university years, this collaboration is deeply personal. By combining our innovative platform with Student Minds' world-class resources, we can intelligently deliver support in a timely and targeted way, ensuring that students get the help they need when they need it most." Sean Ruane, Founder & CEO of Mind Data For more information, please visit Mind Data's website. About Mind DataMind Data exists to transform the way mental health support is accessed and delivered. Their platform offers an easy-to-use digital journal for individuals to record their thoughts and emotions. This data is then analysed to offer insights that empower both users and mental health professionals. By improving self-awareness and helping practitioners offer more informed support, Mind Data aims to make mental health care more proactive and personalised, ultimately contributing to the improved wellbeing of one million people globally. About Student SpaceStudent Space is run by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity. Student Space is here to make it easier for students and supporters to find the support that they need. However, students are feeling, help and guidance are available. Explore a range of trusted information, services and tools to help you with the uncertainty of student life.
There are three ways that Student Space is here to help:
Student Minds has just launched a new Train the Trainer Course for university and students’ union staff - Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders. Over the past year, Student Minds has been collaborating with staff and students from King’s College London SU and University of Nottingham SU on the development of the new course ‘Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders’, focussed specifically around students in leadership or voluntary roles, providing them with the skills needed to look out for fellow students whilst maintaining the boundaries of their roles.  Course developmentAs a charity, we have been running for just over ten years and have two well established Train the Trainer courses, with over 300 trainers running our student workshops on campus; Look After Your Mate and Mental Health in Sport. However through feedback from trainers and staff in our networks we noticed a gap in training for students in leadership and voluntary positions. This is why we have worked with staff at King’s College London SU and University of Nottingham SU to design a course that equips students’ union and university staff with the ability to deliver our Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders workshop to students on campus. We drew on the expertise of the experienced staff at both students’ unions to ensure we designed a course which met the needs of students in leadership roles. Both pilots used the workshop as part of their student leader’s induction training, for example for their peer mentors, and received positive feedback from students involved and a marked rise in their confidence in supporting their peers whilst in their roles. The Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders student workshop is aimed at those students who are in leadership and voluntary roles (such as peer mentors, course reps and committee members). Student Leaders may need to look out for their peers who could be facing challenges whilst at university. The session gives students the skills, knowledge and confidence to support their student community, whilst maintaining the boundaries of their roles and looking after their own mental health and wellbeing. These skills are often different to those needed to support a friend or teammate - both of which are covered in our other student workshops (Look After Your Mate and Mental Health in Sport). Sign up to the course today!Explore our Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders course by signing up today and see how you can engage with our training and resources to ensure your university/SU is putting student mental health first. If you have any difficulties registering, make sure to get in touch and we will be happy to help. Let’s improve university communities so that every student gets the mental health support they need to reach their goals. Together, we can ensure no student is held back by their mental health. If you didn’t attend our launch event you can watch the recording and find out more about the course below: Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders (22/08/24) recordingEveryone deserves to feel safe. People of colour, Muslims, and our international community have a right to belong just like everybody else. Our society is at its best when everyone is treated equally, with dignity and respect. We condemn all instances of racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia witnessed in the last few days. There is no room for hate.
Last week, far-right rioters weaponised the deaths of three young girls to inflict violence and terror on cities across the UK. In doing so, they targeted minority people in acts of blatant racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia, as well as senselessly destroying local shops and community assets like libraries, police stations, and university buildings. We’ve heard reports of physical violence against innocent people just trying to go about their day. This is completely wrong and unacceptable. We’ve been deeply moved by scenes of communities across the country coming together to not only speak out against hatred, but to repair damage and support those affected. At Student Minds we know the power of a selfless act, some kind words, or a courageous intervention to stand up for what is right. Our communities will overcome this. We’re committed to building a society where every student can thrive, and where diversity is embraced, celebrated and valued. We know many students will have been affected by violence over the past few days. Student Space has resources and information to help you navigate everything going on: https://studentspace.org.uk/ If you or someone you know experience or witness a hate crime, support is available to report this safely. You can find out more about your options via Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/hate-crime/how-to-report-a-hate-incident-or-hate-crime/ For instances of Islamophobia, you can report what happened to Tell MAMA. Visit their website at: https://tellmamauk.org/ for more information. Today is Black Leaders Awareness Day, a chance for all of us to recognise and acknowledge the incredible Black leaders around us, the importance of Black people within leadership and that more needs to be done to enable Black people to take positions in leadership roles. Everyone has the ability to be a leader. We recognise that leadership is more than just a job title, leadership also includes: student leaders, community leaders and so much more. In the lead up to this day, we asked several Black leaders we’ve had the pleasure of working with why seeing Black people in leadership is important, what it looks like, how it applies to them, their lives, futures and legacies and what they would say to their younger selves. Here is what they had to say: Yeme Onoabhagbe (She/They), CEO of Student Minds
“10 year old Yeme never had Black role models of any kind to look up to, let alone Black people successfully leading in their chosen careers. I feel privileged to join a long list of affirming Black individuals of all kinds, from charity leaders, to community leaders and students, who inspire 10 years old today. Leadership isn’t simply about leading others, it's about shattering the status quo and challenging norms, so much so that leadership becomes more accessible to those historically prevented from taking up these positions of power. I see this as my duty and privilege.” Taj Donville-Outerbridge (They/Them), A proud black queer non-binary young leader and award winning human rights activist.
“For me, true leadership is about being a role model, inspiring and centring those around you to achieve their greatest potential through your actions. You must live authentically, have passion and empathy, and always own your shortcomings. Leaders lead by what they do and how they act, not by what they say. Universities play an important role in who gets to see themselves as a leader and in what spaces. Black students deserve equitable opportunities to become student leaders outside of the ACS and black student officer roles; and universities can support this by increasing their black staff and faculty across all fields, having dedicated leadership programs and support services for us and by listening and believing black students when they tell you what they need to succeed Andy Owusu (He/Him), Content lead for the Black students’ Student Space package, PhD scholar at London South Bank University, consultant on students’ mental health in Higher Education, a researcher and an author
“For myself as a Black leader I believe my journey is just beginning, I am now finding myself in spaces where my contributions have a larger impact on my community and most importantly the Black student community in higher education. I am helping to create some tangible pieces of work, leading with action not just words, in a lot of the projects that I have been able to connect with. I have partnered with students to ensure student voice is established in anything we do. The students I have worked with within my various projects are the future Black leaders we want in our communities, and they have shown a great passion for change which resonates within the work, it has been amazing to work with such capable individuals. I want to keep this momentum going, helping to achieve the goal of changing the narrative around mental health within Black communities.” Sapphire Francis (She/Her), University Mental Health Charter Award assessor and an aspiring clinical psychologist interested in challenging mental health inequalities for people from racialised minority backgrounds
“I used to offer my younger self advice to do things differently. Now, I just want to tell her to be proud of herself. You’re consistently showing up, despite challenges, and soon you'll see exactly how much you've achieved. Continue to lead by example. Thank God, thank yourself, celebrate and say "well done" before moving on.” Amira Campbell (She/Her), National Union of Students UK President, TALAWA Executive and political activist
“For me, celebrating black leadership is celebrating those that seek to dismantle oppressive systems, practice collectivism, and empower communities we may not hear from otherwise. Black leadership is inextricably connected to the liberation movement. I have been blessed to constantly see black leadership in my family, in my friends, and in those who have taken on this leadership role before me. The National Union of Students holds a strong history of black women in leadership roles. It has been black leaders who have granted me the language to contextualise my lived experience and seek change. Black leaders bring me to work every day. And, although it is terrifying and challenging being a black leader, I am overjoyed to be able to continue to learn more about what black leadership means to me.” It is important that people see themselves reflected in leadership positions, but with less than 1% of professors in Higher Education and less than 1% of CEO’s in the UK’s charity sector being Black, unfortunately this is still very rare. It is vital that we not only recognise all the current Black leaders doing great work but also continue to raise up and empower new Black leaders.
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As Student Minds is a registered charity, we aren’t party-political, and we pride ourselves on building consensus to improve student mental health. In April, we published our Student Mental Health Manifesto (SMHM), sharing our ambitious, whole-society vision for the next government. The Manifesto lays out five key themes for change, making both urgent and long-term recommendations. Now the general election has been called, political candidates and parties are campaigning for your vote, and sharing their plans for if they get elected. Here, we explore some of the key proposals made by the Conservatives, Greens, Labour, and Liberal Democrats, under the themes covered in the Student Mental Health Manifesto. We’ve considered the parties fielding candidates across the UK for this piece, but will provide a similar look at parties in the devolved nations soon. Student Minds does not endorse any particular party or candidate. We hope students, staff, and everybody who cares about student mental health will use this information as insight into each party’s platform, but the choice of who to vote for is yours. It’s important to do your own research and check out party manifestos as well as pledges by candidates, including independent candidates, in your constituency. We note that this article is not a comprehensive nor exhaustive account of all party manifestos and shouldn’t be taken as such. Remember that your vote matters. Note: to ensure impartiality, we have used the wording and framing used within each manifesto wherever possible. This helps us ensure we describe each party’s views as they do and ensures we remain impartial. You may find some of the wording below disagreeable. Party policies do not reflect the views of Student Minds. HealthcareWhat does the Student Mental Health Manifesto say?
“All students should have access to quality and timely mental health support. We’re calling for an urgent commitment to increase funding for the NHS and improve support for healthcare staff and students. We also want to see a long term commitment to ensure the sustainability and improvement of mental health services, and improved support for students and young people who experience poor mental health.” What the parties say:
Our thoughts:
We’re pleased to see a commitment to funding early support hubs for young people across so many manifestos. We’re also encouraged to see the pressures on NHS staff acknowledged, with measures to improve staffing as another common theme. We hope this will reduce workloads for individual staff, reducing burnout and waiting times for support.Support targeted at young people isn’t available to all students, so we would want to see assurances that mature students who are not eligible to use the early support hubs can access timely alternative care. Financial HardshipWhat does the Student Mental Health Manifesto say?
“All students should have enough money to support them through their studies. This requires a review of existing student funding systems nationwide, reversing real-terms cuts due to inflation, increasing entitlement thresholds based on household income, restructuring Postgraduate Taught finance, and introducing maintenance funding for part time students. We identify immediate changes to alleviate cost-of-living pressures such as a winter fuel allowance, increasing the minimum wage for all 18 year-olds to the Real Living Wage, further subsidising public transport, and introducing payments for healthcare students on placement. Students’ specific experiences must be accounted for when policies designed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis are developed.” What the parties say:
Our thoughts:
We’re delighted that multiple parties have taken up our recommendation to reinstate maintenance grants for university students. Equally, policies to raise the minimum wage are welcome - though we continue to support calls for the minimum wage to be in line with the Real Living Wage. We will continue to advocate for further support for healthcare students during their studies. We also would’ve liked to have seen more on tackling the costs of basic necessities, raising student maintenance allowances retrospectively to account for almost a decade of real-time cuts, and a student winter fuel allowance. More needs to be done to ensure students have enough money to support them through their studies. Higher educationWhat does the Student Mental Health Manifesto say?
“Our higher education institutions need improved support and investment. The funding model for higher education must be reviewed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector without compromising on staff or student wellbeing. Clarity on the roles and responsibilities of universities and statutory health services must be provided to ensure mental health support is delivered appropriately. Continued political and financial support for the University Mental Health Charter should be given to enable these improvements through a whole-university approach. Higher education should be given greater esteem in recognition of its positive contribution to our economy and society rather than being undermined by “culture war” narratives.” What the parties say:
Our thoughts:
These manifestos offer a variety of perspectives around what needs to be done for higher education, but seem to be in consensus that the sector is not in good shape. We’re pleased to see some parties highlight the need for a strong higher education sector which is fully enabled to succeed, which we believe entails adequate funding, an end to the culture wars, and a refocus on quality over “value for money.” e are keen to see more detail as to how the sector can be sustainably funded and how quality higher education will be accessible to all students, without breaking the bank or sacrificing staff welfare. Inclusive healthcare and educationWhat does the Student Mental Health Manifesto say?
“All students should have access to inclusive education and healthcare without facing barriers. The government must urgently improve support for marginalised communities, including trans, international, and disabled students; ensuring university communities are protected from discrimination and hate speech. We’re calling for a long-term commitment to building truly inclusive education and healthcare systems, free from cultural, social and physical barriers.” What the parties say:
Our thoughts:
We note that international students pay far more for their degree, and often pay out of pocket, yet face more barriers to mental health support and academic success. We’re pleased to see some parties begin to recognise this area but would like to see them go further. We would not support a decision to remove the student discount on the Immigration Health Surcharge, and instead believe the surcharge should be removed or reduced further for international students. We are pleased to see multiple parties confirm their pledge to protect the rights of LGBT+ people but note that many LGBT+ students don’t feel safe in their university communities (or society). We want to see more specific measures to tackle discrimination and particularly transphobia across our country. We welcome initiatives to commence ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting, but are also keen to hear what more the parties propose to do to tackle barriers to success faced by racialised and disabled students in healthcare and education. A mentally healthier nationWhat does the Student Mental Health Manifesto say?
“We must move towards a holistic approach to the mental health and wellbeing of the nation, improving support, prevention, and equality. This includes, but is not limited to, early intervention and preventative policies for healthcare, suicide prevention, and embedding mental health and wellbeing into curriculums, to support transitions into and out of higher education. We are calling for the government to improve the state of housing in the country, particularly tenants’ rights in the rental sector, commit to protecting green space and invest in mental health research.” What the parties say:
Our thoughts:
We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping students in mind when designing policy interventions in that sector, so we would like to see more on this pressing topic. However, reforms like the abolition of no-fault evictions and improving energy efficiency in private sector housing will also be accessible to students. We are concerned that students are often disempowered to negotiate with landlords, have lesser financial resources and often move addresses annually, so we would be keen to see what specific housing protections can be afforded them in the next government. We are also encouraged to see multiple mentions of net zero but would urge parties to be ambitious and deliberate in their approach to the climate crisis. Sources and further readingLike many, we have watched the unfolding violence in Palestine with great sadness, frustration, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. In December, we committed to continuing to support students and challenging injustice where we see it. We also expressed our sincere hopes for peace, and are therefore upset and disappointed to be sharing a similar statement six months later.
It is impossible to comprehend the images, videos, and personal testimonies being shared on social media. The extent of the loss and destruction being experienced is devastating, and our thoughts remain with everybody impacted by the events that have taken place on, and since, the 7th October, as well as all who this longstanding conflict has impacted. Many students across the UK care deeply about peace in the Middle East and have chosen to exercise their right to protest. For decades, student movements have truly changed the world and remind us how powerful and influential the student population can be. We support everybody’s right to express their views safely and peacefully. As we reflected in our previous statement, we remain deeply concerned by the sustained increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia being reported on campuses and within student communities. This is unacceptable. Universities should be safe spaces for students to exercise free speech and their right to protest, whilst ensuring no student feels unsafe on campus. Students and staff also have a responsibility to ensure that peaceful protests do not act as an excuse for discrimination and hate speech. During such a difficult and upsetting period, it’s important that we look after ourselves and each other. Social media and the news can feel overwhelming, and it’s ok to switch off sometimes to protect your own wellbeing. If you want to talk, try reaching out to your friends, family, or your university for support. The most important thing is doing what works for you. Along with many students, we stand with the humanitarian community and colleagues across the higher education and charity sectors in supporting calls for an immediate ceasefire and immediate release of all hostages. Support and Community
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As Nicola Byrom steps down from her role this month as the pioneering force behind Student Minds, it’s with the sincerest respect and gratitude that we reflect on her remarkable journey advocating for student mental health over the last couple of decades.
From our inception, students have been at the centre of everything we have achieved at Student Minds. When we began peer support was viewed with much caution in the sector, but through Nicola’s visionary and authentic leadership we were able to provide safe spaces for people to receive peer support and talk about their experience of eating difficulties at university. Nicola’s leadership with SMaRteN also then allowed us to be more innovative and research-led, driving us to find the best solutions for students and moving us towards the de-stigmatisation and empowerment of students grappling with mental health challenges at university. In 2009, the charity started with just a handful of staff and students. Nicola’s passion and drive has inspired countless individuals to join the cause to a point where we are now at over 30 staff and just under 100 volunteers, and our reach has grown exponentially. Through her tireless work to champion and challenge us at Student Minds and within the health and education sector, we now stand in a position as a sector where we have a much greater understanding of our role in supporting students, as well as university staff mental health. It is safe to say that without Nicola, the sector would not be where it is today, and Student Minds would not be the force for positive and sustainable change that it has become. Beyond Nicola’s professional accomplishments, she has touched the lives of countless individuals during her career providing support and mentorship to many. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Nicola as founder of this charity; congratulate her for the incredible achievement of Student Minds; and wish her the best as she continues to work on innovative student mental health research, lead SMaRteN as well as various other initiatives. We know you will continue to touch many and be a strong supporter of Student Minds for many more decades. We will endeavour to uphold your legacy by ensuring that no student is held back by their mental health. |