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| Mentally ill students risk academic penalties for missing classes | Mentally ill students risk academic penalties for missing classes |
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| Students missing classes because of mental health problems risk being penalised with academic sanctions at some leading British universities, while others have no standardised policies in place to help students showing signs of distress, the Guardian has found. | Students missing classes because of mental health problems risk being penalised with academic sanctions at some leading British universities, while others have no standardised policies in place to help students showing signs of distress, the Guardian has found. |
| Of the 21 leading universities that responded to a freedom of information request, only one in four said they had standardised intervention policies under which campus support services will contact students if they miss a defined number of classes. | Of the 21 leading universities that responded to a freedom of information request, only one in four said they had standardised intervention policies under which campus support services will contact students if they miss a defined number of classes. |
| The findings echo mounting concern over mental health provision for students, highlighted by recent suicides of undergraduates at universities in England. | The findings echo mounting concern over mental health provision for students, highlighted by recent suicides of undergraduates at universities in England. |
| An inquest into the death of Natasha Abrahart, who killed herself while attending Bristol University last year, heard that there was “no support” for her despite the university being aware of her severe social anxiety. | An inquest into the death of Natasha Abrahart, who killed herself while attending Bristol University last year, heard that there was “no support” for her despite the university being aware of her severe social anxiety. |
| Last month the parents of 19-year-old Ceara Thacker, who was found dead at her halls of residence at Liverpool University, said it is “essential” that universities have proper systems in place for identifying students at risk. | Last month the parents of 19-year-old Ceara Thacker, who was found dead at her halls of residence at Liverpool University, said it is “essential” that universities have proper systems in place for identifying students at risk. |
| University policies seen by the Guardian largely “expect” academic departments to be proactive in raising concerns about potentially at-risk students, but provide no specific guidelines on when and how to do so. | University policies seen by the Guardian largely “expect” academic departments to be proactive in raising concerns about potentially at-risk students, but provide no specific guidelines on when and how to do so. |
| In its attendance monitoring policy, Manchester University requires that academic schools must request that the student attend a meeting with their programme director if their non-attendance reaches cause for concern, a step that student representatives fear may be difficult for those with severe mental health problems. | In its attendance monitoring policy, Manchester University requires that academic schools must request that the student attend a meeting with their programme director if their non-attendance reaches cause for concern, a step that student representatives fear may be difficult for those with severe mental health problems. |
| If the student does not reply within five working days, or cannot provide a “satisfactory explanation” for their poor attendance, the school must issue a formal warning. | If the student does not reply within five working days, or cannot provide a “satisfactory explanation” for their poor attendance, the school must issue a formal warning. |
| While the procedure for academic warnings is clear, there is no equivalent guidance for academic staff on when and how they should raise concerns with support services. This means that a vulnerable student could potentially face academic warnings before being offered support. | While the procedure for academic warnings is clear, there is no equivalent guidance for academic staff on when and how they should raise concerns with support services. This means that a vulnerable student could potentially face academic warnings before being offered support. |
| Durham University’s policy states that non-attendance and unsatisfactory performance should often be met with a “mixture of approaches”, combining “support with firmness”, and cites “laziness” as a reason for why students may be disengaging. “Students may fail to make satisfactory progress for a number of reasons: as a result of personal problems which are preventing him/her from concentrating on the work, poor management or simple laziness,” it says. | Durham University’s policy states that non-attendance and unsatisfactory performance should often be met with a “mixture of approaches”, combining “support with firmness”, and cites “laziness” as a reason for why students may be disengaging. “Students may fail to make satisfactory progress for a number of reasons: as a result of personal problems which are preventing him/her from concentrating on the work, poor management or simple laziness,” it says. |
| Most universities require students to initiate the support process, which students speaking to the Guardian have claimed results in long waits and insufficient help. | Most universities require students to initiate the support process, which students speaking to the Guardian have claimed results in long waits and insufficient help. |
| Laurie Clarke, a fourth-year student at Glasgow University, says that she ended a course without a grade due to a missed presentation, despite the university’s disability services having made it clear in her records that she did not have to attend presentations if she was unable to do so because of depression and anxiety. | Laurie Clarke, a fourth-year student at Glasgow University, says that she ended a course without a grade due to a missed presentation, despite the university’s disability services having made it clear in her records that she did not have to attend presentations if she was unable to do so because of depression and anxiety. |
| “I had to cancel a presentation due to a panic attack and emailed my tutor to apologise and ask how I could make up for my absence,” she says. “I never heard back from the tutor despite receiving several group emails, and ended up finishing my course with a ‘credit withheld’, despite getting high 2:1s in my essays and having received no further contact from my tutor. | “I had to cancel a presentation due to a panic attack and emailed my tutor to apologise and ask how I could make up for my absence,” she says. “I never heard back from the tutor despite receiving several group emails, and ended up finishing my course with a ‘credit withheld’, despite getting high 2:1s in my essays and having received no further contact from my tutor. |
| “I’m still waiting to receive a grade for this course and my ability to enrol for my final year was heavily delayed as a result.” | “I’m still waiting to receive a grade for this course and my ability to enrol for my final year was heavily delayed as a result.” |
| A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow said: “We are absolutely committed to the wellbeing of our students and believe in a student-centred approach that recognises each as an individual. Whilst we do monitor student engagement this is done in a manner sensitive to the student and their programme of study, and we consciously rely on our staff to intervene proactively when there is cause for concern.” | A spokesperson for the University of Glasgow said: “We are absolutely committed to the wellbeing of our students and believe in a student-centred approach that recognises each as an individual. Whilst we do monitor student engagement this is done in a manner sensitive to the student and their programme of study, and we consciously rely on our staff to intervene proactively when there is cause for concern.” |
| A third-year student at Aberdeen University with anxiety says she waited more than a year to get an appointment with a university mental health adviser. | A third-year student at Aberdeen University with anxiety says she waited more than a year to get an appointment with a university mental health adviser. |
| “They don’t intervene at all,” she says. “I have never had any concern about my wellbeing or even offered support when I have shared my struggles with anxiety. If you miss several classes (in my case due to crippling anxiety), then all you get is an automatic warning email that warns that your position in the university is at threat.” | “They don’t intervene at all,” she says. “I have never had any concern about my wellbeing or even offered support when I have shared my struggles with anxiety. If you miss several classes (in my case due to crippling anxiety), then all you get is an automatic warning email that warns that your position in the university is at threat.” |
| A spokesperson for Aberdeen University responded: “We are constantly assessing the provision of mental health and other important support services, and since the launch of our mental health and wellbeing strategy in 2016 we have adopted several measures to enhance our range of services.” | A spokesperson for Aberdeen University responded: “We are constantly assessing the provision of mental health and other important support services, and since the launch of our mental health and wellbeing strategy in 2016 we have adopted several measures to enhance our range of services.” |
| On the Guardian’s findings, Nick Hillman, the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, says: “The fact that most universities don’t have clear policies in place, sadly, doesn’t surprise me. In some places, really serious conversations about disclosure have only started very recently. | On the Guardian’s findings, Nick Hillman, the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, says: “The fact that most universities don’t have clear policies in place, sadly, doesn’t surprise me. In some places, really serious conversations about disclosure have only started very recently. |
| “University is a particularly crucial time because, unlike physical health issues, mental health conditions tend to show themselves for the first time between the ages of 16 and 24. | “University is a particularly crucial time because, unlike physical health issues, mental health conditions tend to show themselves for the first time between the ages of 16 and 24. |
| “Our tradition of living away from home to secure a degree compounds the challenges new students face because it means they are away from friends, family and existing support networks.” | “Our tradition of living away from home to secure a degree compounds the challenges new students face because it means they are away from friends, family and existing support networks.” |
| Latest figures show that the rate of deaths by suicide among under-25s increased by 23.7% in 2018, and universities have recorded a fivefold increase in the number of students disclosing mental illness since 2007. | Latest figures show that the rate of deaths by suicide among under-25s increased by 23.7% in 2018, and universities have recorded a fivefold increase in the number of students disclosing mental illness since 2007. |
| In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. | In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. |
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