The Scottish Government has launched the Student Mental Health Action Plan today.  

The Plan sets out a partnership approach to improving and protecting the mental health of college and university students who may be living with a range of conditions and illnesses.

Dedicated funding for counselling and other mental health services which was delivered within a college setting was discontinued by the Scottish Government earlier this year. 

The Plan published today does not have any funding attached to deliver its Actions. NUS Scotland have welcomed continued funding for their mental health project, Think Positive.

A previous study published by Colleges Scotland and the Mental Health Foundation (funded by The Robertson Trust) found that that more than half of students surveyed (54%) reported having moderate, moderately severe, or severe symptoms of depression. Despite the prevalence of mental health problems among the college student population, more than half (55%) said they have concealed a mental health problem due to fear of stigmatisation.

Jon Vincent, Principal and Chief Executive of Glasgow Clyde College, has championed efforts to increase college student mental health services. 

He said: “Colleges Scotland along with many other stakeholders have contributed heavily to the Plan published today. There are a number of recommendations which we will closely hold Scottish Government to account on - some college students really need mental health support and services which they can access quickly and easily to help them learn, succeed and gain their qualification. Those services have significantly reduced in the past 12 months due to the discontinuation of funding. 

“We previously recommended that the college sector and the NHS should develop better integration of support for students with complex mental health needs. That isn’t clearly articulated in the Plan - a missed opportunity to lay out how college students can quickly and easily access the services they need to support them complete their qualification. 

“As a Principal I meet students every day who are coming to college with anxiety, stress, depression, and other students who are living with mental health illness. It is incumbent on college leaders to support students holistically and with as much support as we can to help them learn and thrive while they are at college. We will work with Scottish Government, the NHS and other partners as best we can but the lack of resources is a clear issue.”

Shona Struthers, CEO of Colleges Scotland, said: “Some college students, especially those who were at secondary school during the pandemic, are sadly experiencing mental health conditions and illnesses. Now they are at college they need extra support. Previously the Scottish Government funded counselling and other services, but that funding has been discontinued. The Plan published today is very well intentioned but comes with no resource attached, and the actions it suggests would need to be implemented quickly to have any impact.

“There is overwhelming demand for counselling, but reduced capacity to offer services - one college for example opened the list for remaining counselling services on a Monday morning and sessions were fully booked for the term ahead within a few hours. 

“In the months and years ahead colleges will work to implement this Plan, but it is a missed opportunity not to allocate any funding to college student mental health services which are delivered in the safe space which colleges offer.”