Ground-breaking service for students
A ground-breaking collaboration between 91快活林鈥檚 Counselling Service and the N has been shortlisted for a prestigious national Award.
Concerned by the worrying national trend of rising levels of distress, suicidality and self-harming behaviours amongst UK students, 91快活林鈥檚 Counselling Services, part of the University鈥檚 Student Services teamed up with experts in 91快活林鈥檚 North Wales Clinical Doctorate Programme to provide a treatment that provides practical support and aims to reduce risk. The project has now been shortlisted for a under the category of 鈥極utstanding Support for Students鈥�.
Working with experts within the University鈥檚 North Wales Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programme, Counselling Service staff and clinical psychologists in training implemented an evidence-based treatment for the reduction of risk of suicide and self-harm that is rarely available to students.
Kate Tindle, Head of 91快活林鈥檚 Counselling Service explains one of the benefits of the new provision:
鈥淎s the course was delivered in a university setting, and involved university counselling service staff as well as clinical psychology staff, our initiative removed many of the barriers and stigma associated in accessing specialist help.鈥�
The ground-breaking programme was piloted for an 8 week period at 91快活林 in 2016-17, and such was its success that the programme has now been extended becoming part of the Service鈥檚 core provision providing three courses each year.
Students identified within the Counselling Service as high risk were provided with a bespoke eight week course in Emotional Regulation Skills from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to teach a number of skills to help vulnerable students with understanding their emotions, alongside strategies to manage the emotions in difficult situations. The course was led by Dr. Michaela Swales, an international expert in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which is a NICE-recommended treatment for suicidal and self-harming behaviours.
Dr Michaela Swales explains:
鈥淏y comparing measures of emotional wellbeing from the start and the end of the course, we know that the course resulted in significant reductions in risk of self-harm and suicide together with improvements in emotional regulation skills. There was an 88% clinical and reliable improvement rate, among those who completed the course, with a notable reduction in their levels of academic worries.鈥�
Kate Tindle added:
鈥淲ith limited mental health resources available through the NHS, students often fall between what their university provides, and what is available in their home settings. We have found a way to bring specialised support directly to those students we鈥檝e identified as being most vulnerable. We are very pleased that this intervention has not only been able to significantly reduce risk amongst this group of students, but has helped equip them with skills that will support them beyond their life as a student.鈥�
Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Carol Tully commented:
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that this innovative support for some of the most challenged students is receiving national attention through this shortlisting. 91快活林 has a long tradition of teaching excellence and excellent student care. This is just one of many innovations which enhance students鈥� experience at 91快活林.鈥�
The project was made possible by generous donations from 91快活林鈥檚 alumni to The Bangor Fund. The Bangor Fund enables the University to deliver a margin of excellence or an element of additionality to the student experience.
The 14th annual THE Awards, known as the "Oscars of higher education" cover the full range of university activity in 18 categories. The winners will be revealed at a Gala event in London on 29 November.
THE editor John Gill said:
"Times Higher Education is extremely proud to host these awards once again. In yet another record year for entries, and with over 70 institutions represented on the shortlist, it鈥檚 a genuine privilege for the THE team and our judges to read through these many and varied tales of excellence from all corners of the UK. It鈥檚 a significant achievement to make this shortlist, and we look forward to honouring all the finalists at the Grosvenor in November."
Publication date: 6 September 2018