Our checklist explores what universities can do, in partnership with placement providers, to better support students in difficulty with their mental health before, during and after going on placements.
We’ve developed this checklist from a roundtable discussion chaired by Professor Brian Webster-Henderson, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Cumbria.
We’ve also worked closely with Isabella De George, who campaigns for Positive Changes in Placement, following the tragic death by suicide in 2020 of her brother Harrison while he was on a teaching placement.
This checklist builds on the approach set out in the UUK–Papyrus Suicide-safer universities guidance. It also includes case studies of good practice across health care, teaching and industry placements.
Placements are an essential part of many university degrees and are core to students’ learning, self-development, confidence and graduate careers.
If universities support placement students to have good mental health and wellbeing, these students will be better prepared to fully participate and succeed on their placement and in their wider studies.
Placements can involve significant change for students, including new settings, new challenges, new colleagues and additional costs. There is inherent risk that this transition negatively affects students’ wellbeing and mental health, including their ability to access support.
Starting a placement can be a significant transition for students, similar to starting a new job.
Before students begin their placement, universities should:
Many of the factors that we know affect students’ mental health and wellbeing while they study will still play a part in students’ lives while they are on placement, including managing finances, relationships, loneliness, homesickness and juggling multiple responsibilities.
While students are on placement, universities should:
Students on different types of placements may need specific support to promote and maintain good mental health and wellbeing.
Universities should:
The transition back into on-campus study after a placement will be a positive experience for many students as they rejoin friends, the local and university communities and familiar settings.
As students return to their studies after a placement, universities should:
How are universities across the UK already supporting placement students?
