Unreliable university handling of student mental-health disclosures
First to latest report 2 May 2019 — 28 Oct 2019
Reports that mention this concern
2
Times this concern has been raised
2
Stated actions linked to this concern
9
What this concern includes
Includes university and admissions-process failures concerning how students are informed about, encouraged to make, receive, protect, share or use mental-health disclosures made through UCAS or to a prospective university, including whether disclosure affects admission and whether relevant support staff receive appropriate information.
What is not included
Excludes general university mental-health service capacity, counselling, pastoral support or student-risk identification failures where student disclosure handling is not the deficient control.
Excludes generic data-protection, communication or admissions deficiencies unless they directly concern the safety, deterrence or use of student mental-health disclosures.
Excludes clinical mental-health assessment or treatment after a student has been appropriately connected to support.
Excludes disclosure of unrelated personal information or mental-health information shared solely between clinical services.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, 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.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service2
Department for Education1
Department of Health and Social Care1
University of Bristol1
University of the Arts London1
Education admissions service2
University2
Ministerial department1
Reports and published responses 2 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to effectively disseminate mental health disclosure information to tutors and halls of residence staff
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
University of the Arts London
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
University of the Arts London
Regularly review mental-health data-sharing policies and procedures to maintain legal compliance and support students effectively.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
University of the Arts London
Data protection law limits sharing disability-related information without informed consent to cases involving a risk of harm to the student or others.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Avon
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure that mental health disclosure is de-stigmatised and does not deter university admission
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department for Education
Department of Health and Social Care
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
University of Bristol
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.8
Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care
Develop measures and a strategic approach through the Education Transitions Network to support students’ transition into higher education and protect wellbeing.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
Provide content explaining the importance and benefits of declaring mental health concerns and how UCAS and providers use that information.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
Continue collaborating with student organisations to keep declaration content up to date and distribute it to applicants appropriately.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
Redesign the undergraduate application’s questions and supporting help text about disability, special needs and mental health information.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
Hold a sector and expert roundtable to determine the most appropriate redesign of mental health-related application questions.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
Explore using the UCAS Hub to strengthen application and transition messaging and signpost support services and experts.
University of Bristol
Support UCAS in developing alternative ways to encourage mental-health and disability declarations and reduce barriers to disclosure.
University of Bristol
Provide applicants and students with regular prompts encouraging disclosure of mental-health difficulties and explaining how disclosures are used.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care
Higher education providers are responsible for their own admissions processes, including handling mental health disclosure during admissions.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.