Examining Mental Health and Wellbeing Policies in Australian Universities

Abstract

AbstractThe mental wellbeing of higher education students has become a salient issue facing higher education worldwide. This increased attention can be at least partially attributed to prevalence studies which indicate that the severity of mental health difficulties is growing across student populations, and a high proportion of students—higher than the general community—are experiencing moderate-to-severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. There has also been increasing recognition that universities have a critical role in providing supportive and health-promoting environments and developing whole-of-institution wellbeing policies. In addition to their moral imperative to ensure the safety of all students, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students should be a priority for universities given that psychological distress is known to adversely affect students’ academic motivation, retention, and achievement. This is arguably even more important in the wake of COVID-19, which led to rapid changes in learning delivery, as well as a reduction in social connectedness and students’ perceptions of the quality of their university experience. This chapter examines the current state of play with regard to institutional mental health and wellbeing strategies and policies in the Australian higher education sector and suggests recommendations for future directions.