Skip navigation to content

Mental health and wellbeing policy

Introduction

The University recognises that mental health is as important as physical health and accepts that, on average, one in four people will experience a mental health difficulty in the course of a year and that such problems can cause real and lasting damage, both to the individual and to the community. The University also recognises that the majority of people who experience mental health difficulties can get over them or learn to live with them especially if they are supported early on.

This Policy applies to both staff and students of the University of St Andrews and aims to ensure that staff and students feel supported in their work and study.

Accompanying this Policy are sets of Guidance notes offering practical advice to all students and staff.

Policy statement

It is the policy of the University of St Andrews to:

  1. promote mental health and wellbeing through its management policies, support services, information networks and regular health promotion campaigns (including alcohol awareness, diet, exercise, self-management), and by liaising appropriately with external agencies;
  2. prevent, so far as is practicable, those circumstances detrimental to mental health and wellbeing;
  3. provide an environment in which staff and students who have mental health difficulties receive suitable support and adjustments to their work or study circumstances to allow them to achieve their fullest potential.

1. The purpose of the policy

The University’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy

  1. supports the effectiveness of its staff in teaching, research and in the other services which it provides;
  2. seeks to enhance the ability of students to benefit from those provisions;
  3. seeks to prevent the unwanted development that, in responding to one individual’s mental health difficulty, the University might also be significantly affecting other people's mental health.

For example, a member of staff who has to deal with a colleague or student who has mental health difficulties may find that personally distressing and disruptive to other commitments. The University’s policy is to help individuals to respond successfully to those difficulties.

2. Definitions and terminologies

The term “mental health difficulties” is one which encompasses a wide range of experiences which affect an individual's ability to balance his/her life. The difficulties can range from stress and anxiety through to serious mental health conditions diagnosed and treated by the health services.

Although a difficult definition to give in precise terms, it is important to avoid the use of negative terms with stigma attached which may deter staff and students from accessing the support required. The inappropriate use of medical terms which might mislead and label unnecessarily must be avoided.

Students and Staff will be encouraged to respond to individual needs rather than labels.

3. Interactions with other policies

The University’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy interacts with and refines several of its already established policies.

The University’s duty of care towards its staff and students is determined externally by legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Human Rights Act (1998), Data Protection Act (1998), Disability Discrimination Act (1995) and Special Education Needs and Disability Act (2001).

The University exercises that duty of care through this Policy and through the following related policies, procedures and notes for guidance:

  • Health and Safety Policy
  • Equal Opportunities Policy
  • Harassment Policy
  • Complaints and Grievance Procedures
  • Sickness Absence Policy
  • Manager's and Employee's Stress Guidance[s]

Whilst mental health and well-being issues may be relevant to the application of the above policies, the relationship between this policy and the following other policies, procedures and notes for guidance is especially important:

  • Confidentiality Policy
  • Disability Statement
  • Disciplinary Procedures

3.1. This policy and the University Confidentiality Policy

While all dealings with staff and students are subject to the University’s Policy on Confidentiality, it must be emphasised that this is often of paramount importance with regard to those experiencing mental health difficulties. However, it must also be emphasised that confidentiality may be necessarily breached in certain circumstances where the individual is deemed to be a risk either to him/herself or to other people. If there is a conflict between these two statements then it should be stressed that the safety of the individual and/or the safety of other members of our community takes precedence over confidentiality.

3.2. This policy and the University Disability Statement

The Disability Discrimination Act defines a disability as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities” and defines “long-term” as “12 months or more”. Certain mental health difficulties may fall under this definition and will therefore qualify as disabilities

When a member of the University community declares a long term mental health difficulty (and, therefore, a disability) to a member of staff, this declaration will be passed on to Human Resources or Student Services in order to facilitate support. The University must make reasonable adjustments in order not to disadvantage the individual, whether staff or student.

However, most cases are likely to be of shorter duration, in which case:

  • in the case of a member of staff, the situation will be dealt with under the University’s Sickness Absence procedures.
  • in the case of a student, the University will seek to put in place suitable measures to enable the student to pursue his/her studies and to demonstrate satisfactorily the achievement of academic standards associated with his/her studies.

In the case of students, it must be recognised that there may be circumstances in which it is in the student’s best interests, after suitable consultation with a doctor, to withdraw temporarily from the University. The University should expect to receive from the student’s doctor a letter supporting this action and, eventually, also a letter confirming that the student is fit to return to University. The University may need to consult the health services on what information it is useful or possible to request as part of this latter letter in the case of any individual student.

3.3. This policy and the University Disciplinary Procedures

The behaviour of some individuals experiencing a mental health difficulty may be very disruptive and may contravene Disciplinary Codes and/or be detrimental to the wellbeing of other members of the University. Formal action may be suspended where an individual has declared to the University a mental health difficulty in order to bring to the individual’s attention the effects of the behaviour, and to seek to identify suitable support to moderate that behaviour.

4. Responsibility of University

  • promote the emphasis towards good mental health and wellbeing and consideration of this goal within all relevant aspects of its operation.
  • provide central support and advisory services.
  • produce and disseminate Guidance Notes to this Policy to offer practical step-by-step procedures to particular sections of the University community.
  • provide training to staff and guidance to students.
  • encourage a non-stigmatising community to enhance the effectiveness of its actions.
  • monitor the effectiveness of this policy through its annual reporting schemes.

4.1. Responsibility of key role holders

(University Key Workers/Case Managers from e.g. HR, SSS, Occupational Health, who co-ordinate central support for the person in distress):

  • provide the external health service agencies with clear information on the implications and demands, both physical and psychological, of individual study programmes and residence provision for students; also advise on all aspects of work activity for members of staff in order that an informed recommendation can be made.
  • advise external health service agencies with regard to the scope of the support services the University can offer to both staff and students.
  • establish an ongoing effective liaison with local health care providers.

5. Responsibility of staff

All staff are expected to:

  • maintain a non-stigmatising community.
  • treat each student or member of staff with a mental health difficulty as an individual, not a problem or a condition.
  • take advantage of training and information sources.
  • uphold confidentiality (wherever safety is not at risk).
  • recognise the limits to what they can do.

The University recognises that where individuals help a colleague or student experiencing mental health difficulties, each person has boundaries or limits to his/her knowledge, responsibilities and competence, and that these boundaries must be respected. The University will provide for its employees suitable advice and training on:

  • identifying mental health difficulties and making initial responses to individuals;
  • recognising the need to refer an individual to support services;
  • accessing the University’s support services;

6. Responsibility of students

  • Encourage the establishment and maintenance of a non-stigmatising community.
  • Recognise the limits to what they can do.
  • Refer to support and advice services within the University when assistance is required.
  • Inform the University of their mental health difficulties in order that the University can deal fairly with them and support them where appropriate.

Resources for students and staff who provide support for others

The University will provide each student and staff member with information on the support available within the University and will encourage them to access those services through a series of publicity and awareness campaigns.

On occasion, an individual may become more deeply involved in offering support, and becomes in effect an “informal carer”. The University recognises the value of such help to individuals outwith the more formal support services but also recognises the possible stresses which might arise. It thus encourages such individuals to seek advice and support from the appropriate central support services on caring for both the affected person and themselves.

The University support services also have a limit on what they can offer and in this regard the University is committed to working closely with local health services to increase awareness, support and resourcing from relevant bodies.

Please note

This Policy, while stating the overall aims and focus of the University in this area, is best used in accompaniment with the Guidance Notes for particular sections of the community.

Guidance notes