Student mental health changes ‘working’

THE University of Otago has dubbed its revamped Student Health mental health services a success after a controversial restructuring last year.

Figures from the university show this year about 200 more students have used the services to date compared with the 2017 figure and the number of referrals to the Southern District Health Board appears to be down.

This year, 1754 students were seen compared with 1541 last year, but the number of appointments they had were slightly lower at 5223, compared with 5376.

On average, students who used the services had three appointments each this year, compared with 3.5 last year.

Student Health operations manager Margaret Perley said the number would climb higher before the end of the year.

‘‘We believe that the changes to Student Health over the last 18 months and the creation of a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Team based at Student Health is working extremely well.

‘‘The changes have enabled the service to meet the needs of more students and sooner, with no waiting list in place for students needing to access counselling.’’

Seven parttime counsellors and one parttime health educa tor were made redundant last year. They were replaced by seven fulltime staff, including mental health nurses.

Anecdotal evidence from some SDHB mental health services showed a reduction in referrals from Student Health to their services in 2017 and 2018, suggesting ‘‘a greater capacity to respond to the needs of students inhouse’’, Ms Perley said.

Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust founder Corinda Taylor, who runs the Hope Centre, said it was ‘‘great’’ how many more students had been seen.

However, she questioned the lower number of appointments, and what was happening to people with longerterm problems who might want ongoing counselling.

It took ‘‘a lot of courage’’ to speak up about a service, she said.

Otago University Students’ Association student support manager Sage Burke said the restructuring seemed to be successful and he was not aware of any complaints.

The change was initially controversial, and a staff submission obtained by the Otago Daily Times revealed disquiet and disappointment about the way the university was handling the restructuring.

❛ We believe that the changes to Student Health . . . and the creation of a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Team . . . is working extremely well