International student mental health and language provisions
Dear University College Birmingham,
I am aiming to find out to what extent is higher education institutions across the UK are providing mental health support for international students post-COVID. I am requesting the following information on services available during and post COVID.
Please answer the following questions regarding services available during COVID (2020-2021):
What well-being/mental health support was available for students during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Which languages other than English were the services available in?
Please answer the following questions regarding services post-COVID (2022-2023):
Did mental health services change after the pandemic? What other resources were made available and why?
Are they available in languages other than English?
Yours faithfully,
Isobel Forsyth
Dear Isobel,
In response to your specific requests made under the Freedom of Information Act, please see below.
1. Services available during COVID (2020-2021):
a. What well-being/mental health support was available for students during the COVID-19 pandemic?
One-to-one counselling and mental health and wellbeing advice were available to all students, via telephone and video call during this time.
We also introduced a new Student Assistance Programme with an external partner, which provides a 24/7 helpline for our university students in early 2021. This service provides wellbeing support (including 1-1 counselling), legal, housing and financial advice.
b. Which languages other than English were the services available in?
As all our courses are taught in English, we do not have formalised arrangements in place for delivery of these services in other languages. However, the Student Assistance Programme has a translation service available as part of the offer.
2. Services post-COVID (2022-2023):
a. Did mental health services change after the pandemic? What other resources were made available and why?
After staff returned to site, appointments were offered in person on campus, but also remotely (telephone, video call). This hybrid delivery was a new way of offering the service, dependent on student need and preference.
b. Are they available in languages other than English?
As all our courses are taught in English, we do not have formalised arrangements in place for delivery of these services in other languages. However, the Student Assistance Programme has a translation service available as part of the offer. I would also add we have dedicated counsellors and mental health advisors, who are available by appointment both in person and by video call. They remained available during the pandemic, by video or phone call when in-person counselling was not permitted within the rules.
The University does not exercise an internal review option, but you have the right to request a review from the office of the Information Commissioner.
Best wishes,
Joseph
Joseph Young
University Secretary and Registrar
University College Birmingham
Tel: +44 121 604 1000 ext 2234/2329
Email: [email address]
Website: www.ucb.ac.uk
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