Mental health

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Dear Goldsmiths, University of London,

I would like to know if you could answer these questions for my research.

1. How many support service staff have been employed with a mental heath remit (e.g. counsellng, wellbeing) in each of the last 5 academic years. If a breakdown is not available for mental health staff, please provide a total for the closest possible category.
2. Budget for mental health support for each of the last 5 academic years, and where a possible a breakdown on how that money is allocated, e.g. staff, marketing, equipment, etc.
3. Number of students seeking health support in each of the last 5 academic years.
4. Average waiting time for mental health support in each of the last 5 academic years.
5. Any internal reports or reviews relating to mental health provision over the last 5 years.

Thank you very much.

Yours faithfully,
Carlos Rojas

Goldsmiths Information Access, Goldsmiths, University of London

Dear Carlos Rojas,

I am writing to formally acknowledge your Freedom of Information (FOI)
request received on 08 February 2018.

We will respond promptly but in any event by 08 March 2018, this being 20
working days following the receipt of your request and is in accordance
with the time limit set out in the FOI Act.

Yours sincerely,

Information Governance

Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross,
London, SE14 6AF

www.gold.ac.uk

Goldsmiths Information Access, Goldsmiths, University of London

Dear Carlos Rojas,

 

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request received
on 8 Feb 2018. Our responses to your questions are:

 

 

1.       How many support service staff have been employed with a mental
health remit (e.g. counselling, wellbeing) in each of the last 5 academic
years. If a breakdown is not available for mental health staff, please
provide a total for the closest possible category.

 

We hold information on staffing levels for the following two academic
years:

 

2015-16

 

Counselling:

•             4 part time Counsellors (3 all year round and 1 term time
only);

•             1 full time, newly qualified associate counsellor;

•             3 associate counsellors offering 1 day per week;

•             2 trainee counsellors offering 1 day per week.

 

Disability

·                  1 Disability Manager;

·                  2 Disability Advisers.

 

 

 

2016/17

 

Counselling:

•             4 part time Counsellors (4 all year round);

•             1 full time associate counsellor post (3 x Associate
counsellors fulfilling these hours);

•             2 Associate counsellors offering 1 day per week;

•             2 Associate Counsellors offering 2 days per week.

 

Disability

·                  1 Disability Manager

·                  3 Disability Advisers

              

Wellbeing

·                  1 Wellbeing Manager

·                  4 Wellbeing Advisers

 

 

 

2017/18

 

Counselling:

•             1 Senior Counsellor;

·                 6 part time Counsellors ;  

•             3 Associate counsellors offering 1 day per week;

 

Disability

·                  1 Disability Manager

·                  4 Disability Advisers

              

Wellbeing

·                  1 Wellbeing Manager

·                  5 Wellbeing Advisers

 

 

2. Budget for mental health support for each of the last 5 academic years,
and where a possible a breakdown on how that money is allocated, e.g.
staff, marketing, equipment, etc.

 

Our mental health services are delivered through the Wellbeing,
Counselling and Inclusivity and Disability team. The team supports
students with whatever difficulties they are encountering, which may or
may not involve the state of their mental health. We do not record figures
that specify what resources are expended on providing support for mental
health issues. The team’s overall costs are as follows:

 

2012-13        £345,086

2013-14        £357,212

2015-16         £363,424

2015-16        £422,057

2016-17        £613,438

 

 

3         Number of students seeking health support in each of the last 5
academic years.

 

We hold the following figures for students who accessed our Counselling
service:

 

2012/13                                584

2013/14                                687

2014/15                                668

2015/16                                404

2016/17                                586

 

We hold the following figures for students who accessed the Wellbeing
service:

 

2015/16                              1,637

2016/17                              1,047 (recorded but due to mid-year
reporting changes from paper based to electronic case recording the actual
figure is significantly higher than this.)

 

Unfortunately, we do not presently have overall numbers of students who
have accessed health support through the disability team.

 

 

 

4. Average waiting time for mental health support in each of the last 5
academic years.

 

We recognise that there are many issues that may affect students wellbeing
and operate a 24/7 support service to ensure that immediate help is
available for students who need it.

Our Wellbeing team offer a drop in service on a daily weekday basis and
weekly pre-booked/follow up appointments.

The waiting time for counselling is approximately 19 days with high risk
students prioritised.

The Disability team offer a weekly drop in and 58 x 1 hour pre-booked
appointments are facilitated on a daily basis.

 

5. Any internal reports or reviews relating to mental health provision
over the last 5 years.

 

Goldsmiths has developed a range of initiatives to support students
experiencing difficulties with their wellbeing. Details can be found on
our website.

 

[1]https://www.gold.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/

 

 

We keep our mental health services under continual review: listening to
students to better understand their needs and investing in improving and
expanding our support.

In the past year our Wellbeing Team expanded by 30% and we recently added
two new members to our Counselling Team: a new Senior Counsellor and an
additional Associate Counsellor.

This term we will establish a Mental Health Working Group and are
developing a Student Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategy, in line with
UUKs new mental health framework.

 

 

I hope this information satisfies your Freedom of Information request.
However, if you are dissatisfied with this response, you may ask for it to
be reviewed by either contacting us by email: [2][Goldsmiths, University of London request email] or by
writing to:

 

Information Governance Manager

Room M1, DTH Building

Goldsmiths, University of London

New Cross, London, SE14 6AF

 

Please describe the original request, explain your grounds for
dissatisfaction, and include an address for correspondence.

 

If you are still not satisfied following the internal review, you have a
right to appeal to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at
the following address.

 

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

[3]www.ico.gov.uk

 

With regards,

Julian Spain

Interim FOI Manager

Goldsmiths, University of London

 

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