Student Transitions

Student Transitions

Summary

Over the last 18 months, Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, have been carrying out a research project to assess the impact of university transitions on access to treatment for students with eating disorders, engaging students, professionals and other key stakeholders in exploring the challenges students face. The research has shown that NHS services are not adapted to the transient nature of student life and that there is little targeted support for the specific needs of students. This led to a campaign achieving political support from the Minister for Care and Support.

Our Findings

Following questionnaires and interviews with students and professionals, we identified the following key issues:

- Moving to University: Moving to university involves moving away from established support networks, yet it can take months for a new referral to a specialist eating disorder service to be processed. As such, even those who have been recently discharged from specialist inpatient or day-patient services may spend their first months at university with no access to specialist support. Of the professionals surveyed, 96% felt that students do not get specialist care as quickly as they would like and the average wait for an appointment with a specialist service is 5 months.

- Accessing Support at Home and at University: Another key area of concern is the impact of repeatedly moving between home and university support services. Of the professionals surveyed, 92% felt that a student’s treatment was negatively affected by these transitions. Moving between services results in additional paperwork and poor access to patient records, as well as disrupting the development of therapeutic relationships. 83% of students had problems accessing support from their home GP and many reported being refused access to specialist services, from blood tests to psychological support, whilst registered as a temporary patient. This is despite clear NHS guidance on the funding of care for temporary residents [‘Who Pays?’ guidance, 2013].

Report Recommendations: Summary

• Access to care at home & university: Adherence to NHS guidelines: GPs have to give equal services to permanent and temporary residents

• Shared access to notes

• Support before students arrive at university

• National register of support

• Care plans & communication

• Case coordinator

• Investigate barriers for professionals

• Utilise new technology e.g. SHaRON

Consultation and Campaigning

Consultation with the sector illustrated that these issues are affecting students with all mental health difficulties, not just eating disorders. Through speaking to Clinical Commissioning Groups it became clear that;

• The Department of Health does not currently provide guidance to CCGs on student needs.

• A postcode lottery for student support exists but so does best practice e.g. Leeds Student Health and Wellbeing Partnership

A petition campaign was launched calling on the Department of Health to support the development of best practice guidelines on this issue for CCG’s, so that across the UK all students have access to consistent care pathways catered to their needs.

This was presented to Norman Lamb at our meeting on 13th March where two clear commitments were secured:

• The policy team at the DoH will put together a briefing about the impact of university transitions and what can be done to support students

• Norman Lamb’s policy team will meet with NHS England to discuss next steps in putting together guidance for CCG’s on supporting students.

Next Steps

We are in conversations with the Department of Health and NHS England about how the guidance will be developed. The Transitions Report has also been submitted as evidence for the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce.

For more information

- Transitions Report: studentminds.org.uk/university-challenge

- Grand Challenges Research: studentminds.org.uk/grand-challenges.html

- Eating Disorders content on our website: studentminds.org.uk/understanding-eating-disorders

- Look After Your Mate Guide: Studentminds.org.uk/look-after-your-mate

- Email:

We are kindly supported by Comic Relief, The Welton Foundation, UnLtd, The Matthew Elvidge Trust, The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, The James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Trust and Student Hubs.

Student Minds is a charitable company registered with Companies house, no. 7493445 and the Charities Commission, no. 1142783