Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
761. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional mental health supports being provided for students in light of the Covid-19 restrictions; if he is monitoring the way these supports operate; if the supports are reaching students in distress; if there are modifications planned to delivery of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17274/21]
View answerThe support and wellbeing of our students is one of my priorities, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased stress and pressure resulting from it. In 2020, I secured a comprehensive package of financial supports for the Higher Education and Further Education and Training sector to mitigate against the direct financial impact of Covid-19. This package included funding of €3m to underpin wellbeing and mental health and student services in our higher education institutions (HEIs), and was in addition to the €2m that was allocated in Budget 2020.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) advised the HEIs in 2020 of this funding allocation, including a request that institutions distribute it in support of specific student facing areas such as the recruitment of additional Student Counsellors, and implementation of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, which I launched last year. This Framework is Ireland’s first ever national approach to address student mental health and suicide prevention. It recognises the many challenges students face, and sets out ways in which institutions can support and respond through working proactively to maximise mental health and wellbeing. The Framework provides clear guidance to higher education institutions regarding implementation of good practices in responding to student mental health difficulties.
The HEA continually monitors the way the financial supports operate within the institutions. In institutional progress reports, institutions have reported that the funding has supported the recruitment of student counsellors, and has enabled support of additional roles, such as Assistant Psychologists and Mental Health Advisors. Funding is also assisting with extending available hours of service and has supported an agility within the HEIs in their collective responses to the challenges created by the ongoing pandemic among the student cohort. Increased capacity has created significant activity in outreach to students, including
- online support groups (anxiety support, mood management);
- open, drop in groups to support connection/reduce isolation and loneliness;
- groups specifically targeting international students, 1st year students and postgraduates;
- workshops on resilience; managing fear/anxiety/uncertainty; grief and loss during the pandemic; motivation/staying engaged with college;
- increased responsiveness from counselling services, with many providing same day Wellbeing Calls or brief consultation calls, to respond to students quickly and provide "right time" care;
- delivery of institution wide staff training in identifying, responding to, and referring, distressed students.
