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Evidence toolkit: Student mental health

Our toolkit summarises existing research measuring the impact of student mental health interventions.

How we rate evidence in the student mental health toolkit

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  • Psychological

    Psychological interventions are a variety of talking therapies and mindfulness practices that help a student to explore difficult feelings, thoughts and behaviours, typically with a trained professional.

    • Impact on mental health

      Small positive impact

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Strong evidence

    Enabling themesResearch, Innovation and DisseminationLiveProactive interventions and a mentally healthy environmentExternal Partnerships and PathwaysRiskSupport ServicesUndergraduate

  • Active Psychoeducation

    Active psychoeducation refers to interventions in which a trained professional teaches students about mental health and wellbeing as well as helpful strategies that improve mental health.

    • Impact on mental health

      Mixed impact

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Emerging evidence

    Enabling themesInclusivity and Intersectional Mental HealthLiveProactive interventions and a mentally healthy environmentSocial integration and belongingSupport ServicesUndergraduate

  • Passive Psychoeducation

    Passive psychoeducation refers to information, guidance and toolkits that students can access independently to help manage mental health difficulties.

    • Impact on mental health

      Mixed impact

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Emerging evidence

    Enabling themesInclusivity and Intersectional Mental HealthLiveProactive interventions and a mentally healthy environmentSocial integration and belongingSupport ServicesUndergraduate

  • Peer Support

    Peer support and peer mentoring interventions bring students with shared experiences together to help each other emotionally or academically.

    • Impact on mental health

      Mixed impact

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Weak evidence

    Enabling themesInclusivity and Intersectional Mental HealthLearnTransition Into UniversityLiveSocial integration and belongingUndergraduate

  • Physical Activity

    Physical activity includes any interventions that improve mental health by way of also improving physical health.

    • Impact on mental health

      Mixed impact

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Weak evidence

    LiveProactive interventions and a mentally healthy environmentSocial integration and belongingSupport ServicesUndergraduate

  • Recreation

    Interventions that help support student mental health via recreational activities such as writing, animal-based therapies, arts and creative approaches, or gardening are included in this category.

    • Impact on mental health

      Mixed impact

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Weak evidence

    LearnLearning, Teaching and AssessmentLiveProactive interventions and a mentally healthy environmentSupport ServicesUndergraduate

  • Intersystem Collaboration

    Intersystem collaboration refers to interventions in which multiple organisations or departments work together to improve student mental health. Most commonly, this includes partnerships with the NHS.

    • Impact on mental health

      More evidence needed

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Weak evidence

    LiveExternal Partnerships and PathwaysPostgraduateUndergraduate

  • Pedagogy and Professional Training

    Pedagogical interventions seek to improve student mental health by making changes to the curriculum, assessment structures and professional training.

    • Impact on mental health

      More evidence needed

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Weak evidence

    LearnLearning, Teaching and AssessmentTransition Into UniversityLiveProactive interventions and a mentally healthy environmentUndergraduatePostgraduate

  • Places and Spaces

    Places and spaces interventions make changes to the environments in which students study, live and socialise in order to boost mental health and foster a sense of belonging.

    • Impact on mental health

      More evidence needed

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Weak evidence

    LivePhysical environmentResidential AccommodationSocial integration and belongingUndergraduate

  • Settings-based

    Settings-based approaches consider the whole student experience and integrate interventions to address challenges in any areas that might make a student’s life difficult. This is sometimes referred to as a ‘whole-system’ approach.

    • Impact on mental health

      More evidence needed

    • Impact on student outcomes

      More evidence needed

    • Strength of evidence

      Weak evidence

    Enabling themesCohesiveness of Support Across the ProviderLearnLearning, Teaching and AssessmentLiveSupport ServicesUndergraduatePostgraduate