“Struggle is normal” - managing your mental health at university

With 25 years’ experience of working with students, Sarah Littlejohn offers her thoughts on how universities, staff and peers can help manage students’ mental health. Read article here

In a new survey of 3,425 university students, one in five respondents said they engaged in problematic smartphone use which in turn was tied to lower grades, mental health problems and a higher number of sexual partners.  Click here to read further.

Government creates new student mental health taskforce

A new group has been set up to help students manage the challenges in university which can affect mental health. Read government news piece here

UK universities call for joined-up mental health care for students

Mental health services are failing to adequately support students when they leave home and move to university, allowing them to fall through the gaps at a time of increased vulnerability and stressful new pressures, according to research. Read newspaper article here

Health care education funding for postgraduate, dental hygiene and dental therapy students

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) -
From August 2018 new postgraduate pre-registration nursing, midwifery, allied health professional, and most new dental hygiene and dental therapy students will access loans from the Student Loans Company. New DHSC guidance explains the changes in further detail.
Access the guidance at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/healthcare-education-funding-for-postgraduate-and-dental-students/healthcare-education-funding-for-postgraduate-and-dental-students

Medical Students Who Engage in the Arts Make Better Doctors

A new study finds that students who devoted more time to the arts and humanities during medical school had significantly higher levels of positive physician attributes like empathy, tolerance of ambiguity, wisdom, and emotional intelligence, while at the same time reporting lower levels of adverse traits like burnout. Read PsychCentral article here

Mental health services for post-16 students in England

This briefing paper gives an outline of recent studies on the mental health of students, Government mental health policy for students, support in further and higher education providers, the legal duties of providers and discusses issues raised. Click here to read further.

Rising pressure: the NHS workforce challenge

A new Health Foundation report highlighting that national policy and planning for the NHS workforce in England is not fit for purpose. The report also finds high staff turnover and instability across the NHS, and a drop in the number of trainee nurses.

Hunt plans 25pc increase in student nursing placements

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt will today outline plans to create an extra 5,000 training posts for student nurses from next year, an increase of 25 per cent.

If successful this would take the number of undergraduate training places from 20,680 during the current year to 25,850 in 2018-19.
Following reforms to the NHS bursary scheme the government can no longer commission training places directly. It will instead have to rely on the free market it has created with universities needing to create enough extra places and find students to fill them.
To obtain full article please contactlibraryw@uhcw.nhs.uk

Increased Risk for Suicidal Thoughts Among Transgender Students

Emerging evidence suggests school-based mental health services are urgently needed to protect against suicidal thoughts among transgender students.

A new study discovered that nearly 35 percent of transgender youth in California reported suicidal thoughts in the past year, almost double that of non-transgender youth.

'Sharp rise' in student mental illness tests universities

Almost five times as many students as 10 years ago have disclosed a mental health condition to their university, say researchers. 

In 2015-16, more than 15,000 UK-based first-year students disclosed mental health issues, Institute of Public Policy Research analysis suggests.

The 2006 figure was about 3,000 and the rise risks overwhelming university services, the IPPR says.
Universities UK said student mental health was "a strategic priority".

UUK says a new framework, published on Monday, will boost the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff and help embed good mental health across all university activities.

Details of clinical placements released

Details have been released by Health Education England (HEE) regarding the arrangements for funding additional clinical placements in nursing, midwifery and allied health pre-registration education.

1,500 extra medical undergraduate places confirmed

DH has published the government response to the recent consultation on expanding undergraduate medical education.

The government will increase the number of student places at medical schools in England by 1,500.

See also RCP says extra medical school places not enough to address current workforce gaps

NHS bursary scheme rules 2017

This guidance from NHS Business Services Authority contains information about the NHS bursary scheme, with new rules applicable for the academic year 2017 to 2018.

Combatting antimicrobial resistance Educational approaches for the responsible prescribing of antimicrobials

This report presents the results of survey of higher education institutions about the extent to which antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship competencies have been embedded into their curricula. It also sets out recommendations for HEE, employers and healthcare providers to ensure that staff are well-trained in how to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Medical school places in England from September 2018

House of Commons Briefing Paper on Medical school places in England from September 2018.

NHS bursary reform

Update on changes to healthcare education funding for student nursing, midwifery and allied health students.

Medical Students' Perceptions of Clinical Teachers as Role Model.

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 9;11(3):e0150478. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150478. eCollection 2016.
Role models facilitate student learning and assists in the development of professional identity. However, social organization and cultural values influence the choice of role models. Considering that the social organization and cultural values in South East Asia are different from other countries, it is important to know whether this affects the characteristics medical students look for in their role models in these societies...

Click here for Article

UHCW Research - Sinead D R

Guidance on conduct and ethics

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has published revised Guidance on conduct and ethics for students.