First reported 1 Feb 2019•Latest report 31 Jan 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in university mental-health support arrangements, including national or institutional service requirements, welfare-staff competence, specialist liaison, identification and engagement, referral, access, safeguarding and coordination of support for students with significant mental-health needs.
Not included
Excludes generic student welfare, pastoral or academic-support deficiencies where no student mental-health support condition is identified.
Excludes clinical mental-health assessment or treatment after a university has reliably connected a student to an appropriate service.
Excludes general mental-health service shortages outside universities unless the assertion directly concerns university responsibility for student support.
Excludes isolated communication, training or engagement failures that are not part of the university mental-health support system.
Reports
8
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
11
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2019–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
26
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department for Education2
Arts University Bournemouth1
Cardiff University1
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust1
Department of Health and Social Care1
Devon Partnership NHS Trust1
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust1
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Health and Safety Executive1
NHS England1
Universities UK1
University of Reading1
University of Southampton1
University of South Wales1
University of Surrey1
University7
Ministerial department2
NHS trust2
Education sector body1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Workplace safety regulator1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Dorset
Concerns raised1
Lack of training for wellbeing services regarding students diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Deliver full-day training on emotionally unstable personality disorder and personality disorders to Student Services staff, including wellbeing practitioners and counsellors.
Stated by Arts University BournemouthStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 31 January 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The delivered EUPD and personality-disorder training is considered to fully address the concern, so no further work is identified as necessary.
Stated by Arts University BournemouthNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
Berkshire
Concerns raised1
Risk of vulnerable taught research students being overlooked, isolated, or left in academic limbo
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Provide every Master’s by Research student with two academic points of contact and monthly meetings throughout the programme.
Stated by University of ReadingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 July 2024.
Action
Implement an SDAT notification process using regular staff reminders, engagement reports and SSC-provided templates.
Stated by University of ReadingStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 29 July 2024.
Action
Circulate guidance instructing welfare officers on prescriptive escalation, clarifying welfare information, and promptly sharing high-risk concerns with SDATs.
Stated by University of ReadingStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 July 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Professional welfare support from central teams, alongside academic pastoral support, is considered more appropriate than restoring specialist welfare duties to Academic Tutors.
Stated by University of ReadingExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
The organisation lacks regulatory authority to mandate specific mental-health actions by member universities.
Stated by Universities UKOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Individual universities are responsible for their own governance, procedures and decisions on specific mental-health actions.
Stated by Universities UKRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised1
Insufficient academic staff awareness and understanding of student mental health
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
South Wales Central
Concerns raised1
Delays in student access to mental health support services
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Action
Commission an independent external review of wellbeing, health and safeguarding policies, procedures and interventions.
Stated by University of South WalesStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 November 2021.
Action
Introduce specialist Wellbeing practitioner roles and increase team staffing capacity.
Stated by University of South WalesStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 November 2021.
Action
Enhance processes for rapid specialist Wellbeing responses, including immediate risk assessment, action planning and referral where needed.
Stated by University of South WalesStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 November 2021.
Action
Reserve daily internal specialist support capacity for urgent referrals following Wellbeing Advice Appointments.
Stated by University of South WalesStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 November 2021.
Action
Pilot direct referral pathways linking students in mental health crisis with local primary and secondary mental health services.
Stated by University of South WalesStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 November 2021.
Action
Review communication links and expectations with the on-campus GP practice, including consent-based information sharing about interventions.
Stated by University of South WalesStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 November 2021.
Action
Complete a review of wellbeing and safeguarding policies, practices and interventions to improve service connectivity and consider systematic wellbeing monitoring.
Stated by University of South WalesStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 18 November 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The University does not provide prescriptions or act as a first-response, primary-care, emergency clinical, or domiciliary service.
Stated by University of South WalesOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
GPs, NHS mental-health services, and other public services are responsible for emergency, clinical, and domiciliary support.
Stated by University of South WalesRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Surrey
Concerns raised3
Insufficiently robust systems for managing, treating and safeguarding high-risk students with mental health problems
Failure to implement national guidance to reduce student suicide
Lack of national guidance on basic university mental health service requirements
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.8
Action
Implement enhanced safeguarding processes, including a safeguarding policy, broader training access and consideration of all students as potential safeguarding concerns.
Stated by University of SurreyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Action
Implement student concern reporting, repeated follow-up and escalation processes, including escalation to health, security or police services when appropriate.
Stated by University of SurreyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Action
Increase out-of-hours mental health support when the Centre for Wellbeing is closed.
Stated by University of SurreyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Action
Provide personalised, student-led action plans for students at risk to support individual safety needs and risk management.
Stated by University of SurreyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Action
Strengthen case management through caseload monitoring, daily advisor check-ins, structured handovers and cross-service information sharing for students of concern.
Stated by University of SurreyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Action
Use risk assessments as working documents with students to mitigate risk, establish action plans, support follow-up and enable earlier escalation or information sharing.
Stated by University of SurreyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Action
Establish internal oversight through governance groups, policy reviews, a Centre for Wellbeing risk register, performance indicators and committee reporting.
Stated by University of SurreyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Action
Work with the Surrey Suicide Prevention Partnership on university suicide-safety policy, guidance, staff training and student mental health support.
Stated by University of SurreyStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 December 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
The CWB is a pastoral university service, not an emergency, medical or statutory mental health provider, and cannot replicate NHS services.
Stated by University of SurreyOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
NHS and other professional mental health services are responsible for actively diagnosing and treating students’ mental health.
Stated by University of SurreyRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The University had a suicide safety policy and had adopted the national recommendations, except for a planned round-table event.
Stated by University of SurreyDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
There are no defined acceptable standards or regulatory service levels applicable to the CWB because it is not statutory mental health provision.
Stated by University of SurreyDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
Insufficient mental health training and specialist liaison for university welfare staff
Failure of universities to identify early signs of anxiety and mental health issues in students
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
South Wales Central
Concerns raised1
Inadequate provision of counselling and wellbeing services for students
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Invest in and develop the Centre for Student Life as a future home for Student Support Services.
Stated by Cardiff UniversityStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Action
Allocate additional investment for posts supporting risk assessment, triage and management of student crises.
Stated by Cardiff UniversityStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Action
Increase staff time allocated to student counselling and wellbeing services.
Stated by Cardiff UniversityStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 June 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The University disputes that its counselling and wellbeing provision is inadequate for the purposes its services are intended to fulfil.
Stated by Cardiff UniversityDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure to maintain communication links between healthcare providers and student support services
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Introduce an online student-support tool providing 24/7 access and oversight of vulnerable or at-risk students.
Stated by University of SussexStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
Action
Reconfigure pastoral support from separate teams into coordinated thematic services with streamlined processes and clarified responsibilities.
Stated by University of SussexStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
Action
Improve professional-service data sharing, case-note access, links and active referrals across student support services.
Stated by University of SussexStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
Action
Continue working with the GP practice to improve data sharing about student patients and support risk mitigation.
Stated by University of SussexStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
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Includes failures in university mental-health support arrangements, including national or institutional service requirements, welfare-staff competence, specialist liaison, identification and engagement, referral, access, safeguarding and coordination of support for students with significant mental-health needs.
