Greater Manchester Universities and Mental Health

Greater Manchester universities to offer mental health support to higher education students.

13:46 12 October 2018

A partnership between Manchester’s four universities and the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will provide support to higher education students with mental health needs. 

 

The initiative follows the release of a study showing that one in five 16-24 year olds experiences depression and anxiety as they live away from home, family and friends for the first time to pursue higher education.

 

Dr Sandeep Ranote, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and children’s mental health lead for Greater Manchester said: “Prioritising student mental health is vital to ensuring that young people and those going back to study later in life get the very best out of university and thrive during their student careers.

 

“Greater Manchester has the largest university student population in Europe, with significantly increasing reports from our students of mental health difficulties. This can have a devastating impact on the student, their network, the staff supporting them and importantly the student’s future.

 

“It’s time to treat mental health with the same importance as physical health. Good emotional health is the foundation for future well-being. Developing a dedicated mental health service that provides support from “prevention to prescription” enables us to create the campuses of tomorrow.”

 

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said: “Mental health is one of the top issues that students tell us about and we have invested significantly in services at The University Manchester and in this important new initiative.

 

“The next logical step is to share expertise and resources across the whole region, and create a model that will benefit thousands of people. I am very pleased that The University of Manchester will play an important role in this and I hope that it is an idea that can be used across the whole country.”