Mental health support for students wins Times Higher Award
A Manchester Met programme to support students through mental health and suicide prevention training has been recognised with a prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) award.
In partnership with St John Ambulance, the University received the “Outstanding Support for Students” Award for a pioneering peer-to-peer training initiative, and sector-first approach, focussed on proactive mental health support.
Three certified courses are offered through Manchester Met’s award-winning Rise programme and includes a student well-being course for new students, a mental health training certificate for advanced students, and a suicide prevention training course.
The training is freely available and designed to be inclusive and accessible. In the pilot year, 700 students received accreditation, with a further 884 trained the following year.
Dr Lisa Simmons, Faculty Director of Education (Science and Engineering) at Manchester Met, said: “Through our partnership with St John Ambulance we have created a blueprint that I hope other institutions can follow.
“I am delighted that the THE Awards has recognised the huge achievements of the programme, which reflects our – and the whole higher education sector’s – commitment to ensuring no student feels alone, and that we all have a role in supporting one another.”
In 2023, almost 30,000 students reported problems with their mental health, according to the Office for Students, and the student suicide rate has increased across the UK.
When it comes to addressing these concerns, the scale and the diversity of the country’s student population mean a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to have the desired reach and impact.
Manchester Met’s partnership with St John Ambulance has adapted and embedded existing training into bespoke student and staff-facing courses and workshops.
The training delivers a practical approach to mental health first aid, based on real-life scenarios, which has been a huge success with students and staff.
Lorraine Knight, St John Ambulance Senior National Account Manager said: “St John Ambulance is proud to partner with Manchester Metropolitan University on this exceptional initiative equipping young people with the skills to support mental health and prevent suicide.
“The programme demonstrates a way forward in tackling the concerning mental health challenges faced by those under-25, and it reflects St John’s wider commitment to empowering communities with life-saving first aid knowledge.”
Find out more about the award-winning initiative in Dr Lisa Simmons’ article for THE.
