The Higher Education Policy Institute is publishing a new
report on the mental health and wellbeing of academic and
professional services staff in higher education institutions.
Pressure Vessels II: An update on mental health among higher
education staff in the UK (HEPI Policy Note 23) by Dr
Liz Morrish, a Visiting Fellow at York St John University, and
Professor Nicky Priaulx, a Professor of Law at Cardiff
University, reveals figures obtained via Freedom of Information
requests on demand for counselling and occupational health
services.
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From 2016 to 2018, there was an increase of 16% in
counselling at the 14 universities for which comparable time
series data were obtained.
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Over the same period of time, there was a rise of 19% in
occupational health referrals at the 16 universities for which
comparable time series data were obtained.
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From 2009/10 to the end of 2017/18, at those five
universities reporting complete data, there was a rise of 172%
in staff access to counselling.
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At all 17 universities covered in the report, there has
been a rise in staff access to counselling of 155% in recent
years.
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At the 10 universities with data for 2009 to 2018,
occupational health referrals rose by 170%.
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For counselling and occupational health, the figures
reflect gender differentiation, with women more highly
represented.
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There is also a pattern corresponding to contract type:
for occupational health data, the largest proportion of
individuals being referred is non-academic staff.
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While greater use of support services may sometimes
reflect improved access, the analysis may also support previous
claims about the declining mental health of university
staff.
The report builds on HEPI’s earlier work on this issue, published
in May 2019 as Pressure Vessels: The
epidemic of poor mental health among higher education
staff.
Dr Liz Morrish, the author of the original report and the
co-author of the new report, said:
‘The first Pressure Vessels report was well
received by staff who work in higher education. However, some
managers and executives appeared unwilling to accept the findings
of year-on-year increases in mental health problems. We hope this
updated report will confirm our case beyond argument. The current
sample of institutions has identified increases in referrals to
occupational health and counselling as high as 500% since 2010.
‘We have also looked at the effect of this climate of workplace
stress on staff retention. As we look forward to a future after
the Covid-19 pandemic, higher education staff and managers would
be unwise to disregard the additional pressures this will bring.
Like the virus, workplace stress is here to stay and must be
addressed.’
, the Director of HEPI, said:
‘After the Covid-19 crisis is over, universities are going to
have to pick up the pieces. There will be new challenges in
recruiting and keeping students, in managing finances and in
delivering research. It is vital that the wellbeing of all staff
is considered as these changes occur.
‘The future success of our universities mustn’t come at the cost
of individuals’ lives. We need to build a virtuous circle by
delivering supportive environments that strengthen institutions
because they work well for all staff and students, rather than a
vicious circle where institutions may succeed in the short term
but people’s wellbeing is harmed.’
