Book contents
- Improving University Mental Health
- Improving University Mental Health
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements and Thanks to Contributors
- Chapter 1 Introducing This Handbook
- Chapter 2 Building a New Sense of Belonging
- Chapter 3 The Transition to University for New Students with Pre-Existing Mental Conditions
- Chapter 4 The Roles of Parents and Carers
- Chapter 5 Healthy Bodies, Body Image Concerns, Eating Disorders
- Chapter 6 Alcohol
- Chapter 7 Substance Misuse
- Chapter 8 Social (and Anti-social) Media
- Chapter 9 Finance and Mental Health
- Chapter 10 Neurodiversity
- Chapter 11 Ethnically Diverse University Communities
- Chapter 12 Sexual Behaviour and Gender Identity in Universities
- Chapter 13 The Mental Health of Teaching and Academic Staff
- Chapter 14 An Overview of Mental Disorders in Students and Staff
- Chapter 15 ‘Psychotic’ Disorders
- Chapter 16 Mood Disorders
- Chapter 17 Suicide at University
- Chapter 18 Mental Health Services on Campus and in the NHS
- Chapter 19 Students of the Professions and ‘Fitness to Practise’ Issues
- Chapter 20 Summing It All Up
- Index
- References
Chapter 13 - The Mental Health of Teaching and Academic Staff
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 February 2024
- Improving University Mental Health
- Improving University Mental Health
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements and Thanks to Contributors
- Chapter 1 Introducing This Handbook
- Chapter 2 Building a New Sense of Belonging
- Chapter 3 The Transition to University for New Students with Pre-Existing Mental Conditions
- Chapter 4 The Roles of Parents and Carers
- Chapter 5 Healthy Bodies, Body Image Concerns, Eating Disorders
- Chapter 6 Alcohol
- Chapter 7 Substance Misuse
- Chapter 8 Social (and Anti-social) Media
- Chapter 9 Finance and Mental Health
- Chapter 10 Neurodiversity
- Chapter 11 Ethnically Diverse University Communities
- Chapter 12 Sexual Behaviour and Gender Identity in Universities
- Chapter 13 The Mental Health of Teaching and Academic Staff
- Chapter 14 An Overview of Mental Disorders in Students and Staff
- Chapter 15 ‘Psychotic’ Disorders
- Chapter 16 Mood Disorders
- Chapter 17 Suicide at University
- Chapter 18 Mental Health Services on Campus and in the NHS
- Chapter 19 Students of the Professions and ‘Fitness to Practise’ Issues
- Chapter 20 Summing It All Up
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter considers the support of staff mental health in the context of their changing roles and the consequences of increased responsibility for student wellbeing. 5% income is lost to the sector through staff ill health. Academic and teaching staff are far less likely than students to ‘disclose’ a diagnosable mental condition. Guarantees of more secure career pathways from graduation and postdoctoral research to tenured lectureship could improve wellbeing. The nature of the work itself also contributes to burnout. Administrative overload is a priority for review. Structures are needed to allow mental illness to be flagged up through compassionate and supportive rather than disciplinary pathways. Staff should be able to identify mental health problems, without fear of negative consequences for their career. Formal university policies should ensure academic and teaching staff don’t have disproportionate responsibility for student wellbeing. University policies, appraisers and job planners could better reward pastoral support financially and in terms of status and recognition. Student support and university mental health staff are best placed to design and deliver mandatory mental health training for staff. This should prioritise mental wellbeing of staff themselves and build good links between academic and support staff.
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- Improving University Mental Health , pp. 197 - 216Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024