Developing a mental health self-assessment tool for UK universities to evaluate their whole institution approach to mental health

Universities have seen increases in students disclosing mental disorders and in demand for student mental health support services. In response, Universities UK has published an open access self-assessment tool developed with the Child Outcomes Research Consortium. This self assessment tool has been developed to encourage universities to plan and implement a whole university approach to mental health (of students and of staff), as set out in Stepchange: mentally healthy universities.
CORC consulted with a range of staff and students on what needs to be included in the audit and how it can be set out to be practical and useful, as well as to align with the content and approach of the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter. Each section of the self-assessment tool reflects the structure of the Stepchange: mentally healthy universities framework and includes sets of questions for university leaders and teams.