Northumbria shortlisted for Guardian award for best student experience

Northumbria University has been shortlisted for The Guardian’s Student Experience Award 2014 for the outstanding counselling and mental health support it provides to students.

This national award recognises innovative projects that improve the student experience.

Northumbria's Student Support and Wellbeing team recognised the need to review its counselling and mental health services to make it easier for students to access support and provide an extended range of support options.

The University has improved systems and has introduced a broader range of support provision, from traditional one-to-one appointments through to group workshops and exercise referrals.

Students can now register for support 24/7 and their cases are managed by a multi-disciplinary team involving counsellors and mental health practitioners. The new registration system provides the University with more information about the individual needs of students, so that the most appropriate levels of support are provided at the right time.

Professor Jane Core, Director of Academic Services, said: “Students today have higher expectations about the support that universities will provide to them and all universities are now seeing growing demand for wellbeing support.

“We now provide a more tailored service which better meets the needs of our students and helps them to realise their full potential, both in their studies and beyond. The review has also ensured that one-to-one forms of support, such as counselling and mental health practitioner support, are protected and properly valued for the positive impact they have on students who need them.”

The winner will be announced at The Guardian University Awards ceremony on Wednesday 26 February 2014.