There exists a mental health crisis across Higher Education

Alisha’s statement (Head of Student Support) on our approach to caring for the mental health of our students:

Wellbeing is at the heart of student support here at the London Interdisciplinary School (LIS). It’s been vital to provide a safe and trusting space for students to speak about their mental health – in a way that works for them.

As LIS’ Head of Student Support, it’s a privilege for me to work with students on their individual journeys. I’ve seen first-hand the difference talking and reaching out for support can make in a student’s life. Education can be an immensely positive tool for a student struggling with their mental health, and we have spent a great deal of time shaping our support offering to help students progress and build value in their academic, professional, social, and personal lives.

It’s now a fact that there exists a mental health crisis across Higher Education. It’s important not to shy away from this. And at LIS, we don’t. Our duty of care encompasses a strong ethical responsibility, whereby we recognise individualised support and student safety to be a key priority. We’ve achieved this this through recognising mental health as a safeguarding responsibility and strategised early intervention in a meaningful, holistic, and consistent way. The guiding principles that underpin our mental health support practices include inclusivity, accessibility, enablement, and most importantly, student-centrism.

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