In order to provide the most appropriate and useful support for the emotional wellbeing of students, we need to gain a better understanding of their help-seeking behaviours and what support is needed to enable access to university services.

This research aimed to inform and improve the University’s strategy for the provision of support for emotional wellbeing in students. The project had three key objectives.

1. Seeking support – Investigate how likely students are to seek different types of support and if this differs based on their characteristics.
2. Accessed support – What proportion of students accessed support and how useful did they find it.
3. Barriers to support – What are the barriers to accessing support, do barriers differ based on student characteristics, what could be done to overcome these barriers and improve support. 

Current findings

The team investigated if the likelihood of students seeking support differs based on certain demographic and student specific characteristics. There was evidence that certain characteristics (such as gender identity, disability status, caring responsibilities, and fee status) were associated with likelihood of seeking help.

The qualitative component of this objective (analysis of open text responses) has been completed and the quantitative component is underway currently. Once the quantitative aspect is completed the findings of the two approaches will be synthesised. More detailed results to follow.