Resources

The authors outline a four-factor model and philosophy for college mental health services that addresses the loss of comprehensiveness in some centers due to changes in organizational structure. Given research on demand for services and retention of those seen in centers, emphasis is placed in particular upon the value of consultation, outreach, and training work across the entire campus community. The model challenges some assumptions made by proponents of integrated care, including its definition, and illustrates the benefits of establishing and maintaining a fully comprehensive college counseling service.

Results of a survey conducted late May 2020

A series of 3 reports from the UK on student mental health in a pandemic

Outsourcing in health care has become increasingly common as health system administrators seek to enhance profitability and efficiency while maintaining clinical excellence. When clinical services are outsourced, however, the outsourcing organization relinquishes control over its most important service value: high-quality patient care.

CCMH is a multidisciplinary, member-driven, Practice-Research-Network (PRN) focused on providing accurate and up-to-date information on the mental health of today’s college students. CCMH strives to connect practice, research, and technology to benefit students, mental health providers, administrators, researchers, and the public.
The collaborative efforts of nearly 700 college and university counseling centers and supportive organizations have enabled CCMH to build the USA’s largest databases on college student mental health. CCMH actively develops clinical tools, reports, and research using this data.

Learning how to be happy by understanding the habits of happy people.

National Forum for Teaching and Learning: 10 Points to remember when learning online and supporting students in the context of COVID 19.

A twice daily podcast to help clear your mind at the start of the day and wind down at night.

How to navigate the manic, always-on, head-melting world we live in.

Tips to manage family and relationship conflict during lockdown

Advice on conflict within families that can be a big source of distress for young people.

This 60-page e-book offers useful advice on how to start learning, organise your studies, remember what you’ve learnt, keep motivated and learn with other people.

A workshop from the Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley centered around asking students where they want to be when they are 40.

Stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma.

Acute traumatic stress may be a normative response to life threat and there is a residual minority of survivors who will continue to experience chronic PTSD and their needs can be easily overlooked.

Presentations from the PCHEI Conference 2020

The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) is a specialist clinical psychology service in Western Australia. It has four core areas of business:
Develops and provides evidence-based treatments to adults experiencing complex anxiety, mood and eating disorders.
Conducts clinically applied research to improve existing psychological interventions.
Provides training and supervision for health practitioners in evidence-based psychological interventions.
Develops evidence-based online resources to support practitioners delivering psychological interventions, as well as individuals seeking self-help materials to improve their mental health.

How to maintain a responsible ‘presence’ online and the importance of ‘netiquette’ or the rules of online etiquette

Clinical practice in digital technology and youth mental health the digital age: does digital technology work in youth mental health settings?

The IACP guidelines are relevant to all practitioners engaging in distance therapy.

The unpredictability and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic could increase the risk of mental health problems and exacerbate health inequalities.

Minister Harris launches Speak Out – an online and anonymous tool for students and staff to report violence and sexual harassment

3-minute abstract presentation by SynthSCS for the NUIG YouLead Youth Mental Health Research Webinar

The mental health of college students is significantly affected when faced with public health emergencies, and they require attention, help, and support of the society, families, and colleges.

National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework for higher education in Ireland

Drawing on thematic analysis of six student co-creation panels, conducted during the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter consultations, this paper elucidates students’ perspectives and proposals regarding the current issues and challenges around university student mental health and well-being support services. The panels generated a series of recommendations aimed to establish a clear, coordinated, and strategic approach to delivering accessible and inclusive student mental health support services that are responsive to the diverse needs of the whole student population and a ‘whole university approach’ entailing holistic structural and cultural change to the university environment, in order to enrich student mental health and well-being.

The Penn resilience programme offers a free course University of Pennsylvania Resilience Skills that covers the foundational research in resilience, including protective factors such as mental agility and optimism.

An activity from the Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley to help students acknowledge their stress, feel less isolated, and be kind to themselves.

Ohana is a free online suicide awareness training from the zero suicide alliance that takes 20 minutes to complete.

You are invited to participate in a first-of-its-kind study which aims to explore the experiences and support needs of adults who have been bereaved by suicide in Ireland. This survey will provide valuable information on the experiences of those who have been bereaved by suicide and the supports they found helpful.

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

This report provides a resource on eMental health practice and evidence to support developments in this field in Ireland that can enhance mental health services, facilitate user access, and improve outcomes. The report includes some examples of the many eMental health applications and services now becoming available.

The aim of this review is to identify which interventions improve college and university students’ mental health and well-being. It addresses the following review questions:
What is the current evidence on interventions to improve the general mental health and well-being of college and university students?
What does the evidence tell us about the effectiveness of current interventions, and what interventions are likely to be the most effective?

This document summarises the evidence-based interventions for psychological interventions in the treatment of mental disorders in young people aged 12-25 years.

Comparison of the Australian approach to suicide prevention, Lifespan, to other suicide intervention models.

A short overview of current state of affairs in relation to self-harm and suicide research in the UK.

The study sought to explore approaches to supporting students’ wellbeing and mental health, the range of services available to students, data collected on the prevalence of mental health difficulties and levels of wellbeing, and evidence gaps. The research involved engagement with expert stakeholders, case studies with HE providers, and online surveys with senior staff responsible for student health and wellbeing (undertaken summer to winter 2019)

This paper describes psychoeducation and its applications for mental health and health
professions across system levels and in different contexts by reviewing the range of
applications that have appeared in the recent literature. The theoretical foundations of
clinically based psychoeducation are reviewed and the common elements of practice are
identified.

The current review provides an evidence base update of psychosocial treatments for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) in youth. A systematic review of 26 Randomised Control Trials.

This study evaluates the feasibility of embedding a strength-focused resilience-building seminar within a university curriculum. Participants were 247 students enrolled in an undergraduate psychology subject. The Staying on Track seminar, consisting of six building blocks for resilience, was delivered within a normal lecture period.

Chapter 1 describes different types of LIPIs that services may wish to consider using with their clients, along with some guidance about how to match LIPIs to clients’ needs. Chapter 2 presents more detail about completing a LIPI assessment and case formulation, along with a case formulation template and case examples for several clinical problems. Chapter 3 illustrates how clinicians can use their case formulations to implement targeted psychological tools and techniques within a LIPI. Case examples, a treatment planning template, and an example treatment plan are provided. Finally, Chapter 4 provides guidance on designing group LIPIs, which may be helpful when clinicians receive regular referrals for similar problems. A template for planning and designing a group LIPI is provided, along with case examples

As the number of cases of COVID-19 increases, so does the associated anxiety. For the general public, the mental health effects of COVID-19 are as essential to address as are the physical health effects. And for the one in five who already have mental health conditions – or the one in two who are at risk of developing them – we need to take personal, professional, and policy measures now to address them. To aid individuals and communities during this time, MHA has compiled a range of resources and information. You can learn more about mental health and COVID-19 from our blogs and webinars.

This document – based on the deliberations of the WHO meeting, highlights some of the basic issues in the field of prevention and promotion in mental health with special reference to the evidence-base. It also outlines the role of WHO in advancing current knowledge and disseminating information among Member States, especially among developing countries. It is hoped that the information given here will assist in wider utilization of appropriate and effective interventions on prevention and promotion towards reducing the burden of mental disorders and in enhancing the mental health of populations.

The guide presents five evidence-based programs and practices that address the prevention and treatment of common mental health concerns: gatekeeper trainings, mindfulness-based stress reduction, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy

This document is intended to support local areas to take positive and much needed action to improve public mental health and prevent mental health problems. This resource has been written to highlight and build upon the good work already taking place in local areas, to provide ready access to the evidence and propose effective and practical solutions.

This report aims to support institutional policy development and review around student mental health by providing a scan of policy approaches in post-secondary institutions across Canada and the United Kingdom. The report is intended for a wide variety of administrators and practitioners working in the field of campus mental health, though it may also be useful for student groups that are currently engaged with campus mental health organizing and advocacy.

This mental health charter sets out an ideal approach to improve the mental health outcomes for the whole university community and also outlines a quality improvement scheme that will recognise and reward universities that demonstrate good practice.

Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale — the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history — The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

Breathe is an app designed to help you ‘watch your breath’. For centuries, deep breathing has been an integral part of meditation practices. It has more recently been adopted by everyone from world class athletes to the U.S. army. Studies have shown that with regular practice meditation can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression. Cognitive benefits include improved focus, memory and decision making.

MoodMission is an evidence-based app designed to empower you to overcome feelings of depression and anxiety by discovering new and better ways of coping

A website offering support and information to those experiencing domestic abuse in Ireland.

If you experience a condition that is affecting your mental health and are looking for specific information about different types of problems then the ‘workbooks' or sets of modules in this section may be relevant to you. Some of the modules can be used on their own, while others are best used as part of the series; each workbook will have its own suggestions. We strongly encourage you to talk to your local doctor or a mental health professional about your difficulties as the information provided in the resources are NOT a substitute for proper diagnosis or treatment by an appropriate health professional

Both online and in our services around the country, Jigsaw offer advice and support to young people aged 12–25 years-old.

We give families, educators, and those who support young people’s mental health ways to cope and the skills to be there for young people. Using our collective power, knowledge and expertise, we make sure that youth mental health is a national and local priority.

Aware undertakes to create a society where people affected by stress, depression, bipolar disorder and mood related conditions are understood, supported, free from stigma,
and are encouraged to access appropriate therapies. The website offers support and information to those affected.

Mental Health Ireland is the longest established mental health charity in Ireland. Throughout their history they and the Mental Health Associations have played a central role in reshaping how the public understand mental health issues.
Since establishment in 1966, MHI have been front and centre in promoting positive mental health, supporting people with lived experience of mental health challenges in their recovery and bringing practical expression to national policy objectives.

Pieta provide free counselling to those with suicidal ideation, those engaging in self-harm, and those bereaved by suicide. Staff are fully qualified and provide a professional one-to-one therapeutic service. The website offers support and information to those affected.

Samaritans is the only charity in Ireland offering emotional support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to anyone who is in distress, lonely, struggling to cope or feeling suicidal. The Samaritans website offers information and support for affected individuals.

Women's aid website that offers information and support for victims of domestic violence. Women’s Aid is a leading national organisation that has been working to stop domestic violence in Ireland since 1974. We operate the 24hr National Freephone Helpline and a number of Dublin based face-face services. We also act for justice and social change through our specialised training, public awareness campaigns and policy work.

Minding our future contains new guidance to improve the coordination of care between the NHS and universities, so that all students can access the care they need. The document outlines individual lived experiences as well as important statistics related to mental health in the student population in the UK.

This brief uses empirical evidence from college student populations and examples
from college presidents to examine how higher education leadership can advocate for
and invest in student mental health. The rise and prevalence of mental health disorders
and their detrimental effects on academic outcomes are why addressing student
mental health is important for the academic missions and economic well-being of
institutions

The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act was established to provide funding for suicide prevention efforts.

A systematic review on scalable evidence-based suicide prevention strategies

Exploratory study which used the STORM training package to determine whether skills training could be successfully implemented in an educational setting in England.

Systematic review on the effectiveness of suicide prevention interventions

The authors provide a framework for bridging suicide prevention efforts in university with a clinical intervention approach.

Report by the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health on the mental health of Australian university students

The mental health of Australian university students is impacted in part due to academic pressure, financial stress, isolation and loneliness. This is coupled with the added impact of transitioning into university which coincides with the onset of when mental health is most likely to occur (17-25 years).

Article looking at the feasibility of incorporating a strength-focused resilience-building seminar within a university curriculum

A guidebook for instructors to aid them in designing learning environments that promote student well-being.

This guide outlines a framework for addressing student mental health in post-secondary institutions.

Working towards exams can creating feelings of worry and being under pressure, especially at university where you’re aiming for a degree. However there are a range of things that you can do to help deal with the stress that you might be feeling...

Find out more about what we mean by the term stress and stress response here.

University can be a very exciting time in your life, but it can also be a big change from school or college. It is normal to face challenges as you transition from one part of your life to another. By knowing what to expect and having a resource to help you navigate the ups and downs, you’re setting yourself up for success over the next several years.

​Know Before You Go is an e-resource that is intended for 5th and 6th year students, and the educators who support you, as you transition from school/college to university

This document outlines individual stories as well as important statistics in relation to student mental health and suicide in the UK. The document also outlines a strategy for suicide-safer institutions.

The Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center provides essential information about common emotional health issues and shows teens and young adults how they can support one another, overcome challenges, and make a successful transition to adulthood

When a friend or loved one tells you they are thinking of taking their own life,
it can be frightening and unnerving. You might find it hard to understand or it
may seem unbelievable. You may feel helpless or hopeless, or both.
This booklet is for everyone in that situation. It gives basic information to help
you understand what brings someone to a point in their lives where they are
feeling suicidal. It also gives practical information on how you can support
them and how you can mind yourself through it all.

Free online support groups for individuals with eating disorders

The authors review how suicide prevention research informs implementation in clinical settings where those most at risk present for care.

Literature review on gatekeeper training by the National Defense Research Institute

Report conducted for The Ohio State University to assess and evaluate mental health and suicide resources at the university, comparing resources that are available to those in other universities and making recommendations based on areas for improvement.

PCHEI Spring Training 2023

PCHEI Spring Training 2023

The 2021 Annual Report from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health presents mental health trends, service utilisation, and the impact of counselling centre staffing levels on student outcomes, based on data from 180 college and university counselling centres.

Explore the Clinical Load Index (CLI), a reliable metric designed to inform administrative, funding, and policy decisions related to mental health services in colleges and universities. Learn more about CLI scores, how they are calculated, and their role in determining staffing levels for optimal student support.

Eric Stice Body Project presentation TU Dublin September 2022

The present exploratory study represents an early effort to examine the effectiveness of brief EFT for generalised anxiety symptoms within a university SCS and the clients’ experiences of this type of therapy.

In this insightful presentation, Paula Seth, the esteemed Head of Student Counselling at Mary Immaculate College and PCHEI Research Officer, draws upon her doctoral research to explore the profound concept of 'wonder' in the realm of psychotherapy.

This presentation, delivered by Hayley O’Gorman, a dedicated counsellor at the University of Limerick's Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service, delves into the critical and nuanced experiences of counsellors when assessing and managing suicidality among students in third-level institutions across Ireland. Building on her extensive research conducted during her Master of Science in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy at the IICP, with a thesis completed in 2023, Hayley shares invaluable insights and findings. Her work, rooted in her passion for student wellbeing honed through her internship and accreditation hours at MIC, Limerick, offers an essential exploration into the challenges and strategies pertinent to addressing student suicidality in educational settings.

Key Findings Report by Chuck Rashleigh & Lucia Nwabueze from Student Counselling Services, TCD, and Dr. Louise Doyle & Dr. Brian Keogh from TCD School of Nursing & Midwifery