Government plans to invest up to 拢3 million over the next academic year to make student mental health services more 鈥榡oined up鈥� will only scratch the surface of the increased support needed.

A Freedom of Information request we carried out found universities spend an average of just 拢39 per student on mental health support. This is particularly disappointing when compared to 拢2,690 per student spent on marketing.

The new government scheme will create regional partnerships between university and NHS mental health services aiming to reduce delays faced by students when they try to access mental health services after moving away from home to university.

While this is welcomed, it won鈥檛 tackle the growing mental health need our members are seeing among students.

This new investment, across universities in England, works out as around 拢1 per student, according to the NUS.

It will not do enough to address the lack of funding in counselling and similarly vital mental health services, as highlighted by our research.

Qualified professionals

While it鈥檚 important NHS and university services are linked up, we also need vital investment to ensure there are sufficient qualified professionals employed to offer accessible mental health support directly to students.

Jo Holmes, our Children, Young People and Families Lead, said: 鈥淭his will do very little to support the growing number of students who are struggling with their mental health at such a crucial time in their life. University is often the first time they鈥檙e away from home, friends and family; they鈥檙e facing substantial changes in the lives and new personal and academic challenges.

鈥淲e know demand for university mental health services has soared in recent years 鈥� but these plans will only scratch the surface of what鈥檚 needed.

Woeful level of funding

鈥淥ur own research highlights the woeful level of funding being invested in crucial mental health services to support students. We would like to see investment in professional, qualified counsellors working in embedded counselling services, ensuring students have access to the right support, at the right time. They鈥檙e best placed to support students in this specific university environment, with issues that are particular to this client group.鈥�

We鈥檒l be sharing our view on this announcement with the Government as part of our response to its consultation on its 10-year mental health strategy.

The 鈥榤ental health hub鈥� plans were launched by the departments for education and health and social care at a roundtable event that highlighted projects at universities that already connect NHS and university services and offer students personalised support.