Mental Health Disability Symposium
Supporting Student Transitions and Training

Wednesday 10 May 2017, The Studio Glasgow

 

RCS was delighted to host a Mental Health Disability Symposium on Wednesday 10 May, an event which took place as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (May 8 to 14).

The symposium was an opportunity for over 50 senior practitioners, from HEIs and conservatoires throughout the UK, to come together and share key findings, identify gaps, and inform future theory and practice in supporting transitions for students with MHD for the duration of their studies and beyond.

In April 2015 the RCS commissioned Dr Rachel Drury to complete a piece of research that explored transitions support for students living with mental health issues. The research was funded as part of the QAA Enhancement Theme ”˜Student Transitions’ and the purpose was to understand better the mental health landscape at the RCS, and the subsequent barriers to learning for students transitioning into, through, and out of the RCS.

The research revealed a consistent rise in the numbers of students disclosing a mental health disability (MHD) over the last five years, which is a trend that has been mirrored in Higher Education Institutions across the UK. With a continued commitment to build on the current support available to our students, the RCS commissioned further qualitative research to investigate the experience of students studying with an MHD and the experience of core staff members who support them throughout their studies.

This has resulted in a larger piece of research over the course of 18 months, with Dr Rachel Drury presenting the key findings from this body of research at the Symposium. Details of these outcomes can be found in the links below.

 

CONFERENCE RESOURCES

RCS Students Living With Mental Health Disabilities view the presentation delivered by Dr Rachel Drury

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing view the group handout by Toireasa McCann

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For more information on See Me and their resources visit www.seemescotland.org

CONTACT

If you have any queries in relation to the symposium please contact Claire Miller, Events Manager on events@rcs.ac.uk