While the sector has made genuine progress in recognising the emotional and psychological experiences of students and staff, significant challenges remain. These include unclear boundaries between university support and NHS services, difficulty distinguishing poor wellbeing from clinical mental illness, and the sustainability of services under increasing workload pressures.
A central concern is how institutions communicate compassionate but honest boundaries, being transparent about what universities can and cannot reasonably provide. The conference aims to equip professionals with the language and confidence to engage with these more difficult conversations, while sustaining services without burning out staff or raising unrealistic expectations among students.
This year's Advance HE Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education conference, held in Liverpool on 6 May, is themed around the idea that progress lies not in doing more, but in doing things differently. The focus falls on embedding evidence-informed practices that create the conditions for good mental health, exploring the intersection of equality, diversity and inclusion with mental health work, and rethinking pedagogy so that teaching and assessment actively support wellbeing.
Jane Harris, Co-chair of the Wellbeing in Higher Education Expert Group, explains why you should join us at the conference below.