The Office for Students has appointed TASO to lead a consortium to help universities and colleges identify and make use of effective practice in supporting student mental health. This work will lead to the creation of a central, online hub to share what works to support student mental health.

“TASO is delighted to have been appointed as the evaluators for the Office for Students’ ‘what works’ student mental health project. Along with our five consortium partners, we look forward to building on our existing work to improve our understanding of what works to address student mental health. We know there is a great deal of work and commitment in this area, and we are dedicated to ensuring that it effectively supports and improves student lives.”

Dr Omar Khan, Director of TASO

TASO will be the lead partner on the project, with further expertise being provided by the other consortium partners, What Works Wellbeing, Universities UK, SMaRteN, King’s College London, Student Minds and AMOSSHE.

“Students have experienced an especially difficult time through the pandemic. It is crucial that they continue to receive the right mental health support as universities and colleges return to normal.

The OfS has provided a range of funding and resources to support student mental health, and this national programme will help us to better identify what works best. I am delighted that we have appointed this TASO-led consortium, with the organisations involved having significant expertise in understanding what works best to support students. Students will be consulted through this work, to ensure their views are taken into account.”

John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students

The project marks an exciting next step in TASO’s work around student mental health. Just this week they published their new report, What works to tackle mental health inequalities in higher education (HE)? which you can read more about here.