HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, June 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two evidence-based mental health resources originally developed in Nova Scotia, are launching in schools and universities across the United Kingdom today.
Transitions and Know Before You Go were presented to over 50 representatives from schools, universities and colleges who attended a conference hosted at Southampton Solent University last night. These life skill resources were originally developed in Nova Scotia by Dr. Stan Kutcher and content experts with youth input.
They were created to help students better visualise and prepare for their future, with topics such as; time management, relationships, identity, finances, sexual activity, mental illness, suicide, addictions, and more. Know Before You Go provides age-appropriate guidance to young people before they leave school for college, and Transitions contains information to support students through the first years of post-secondary education.
Half of all young people in the UK go to university, but few are prepared to deal with the initial transition from school to college or university. In the UK, drop-out rates of first year students have risen for a third consecutive year and universities have seen an increase in demand for student mental health support services.
Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, adapted the Canadian content to suit post-secondary settings across the United Kingdom.
Rosie Tressler, CEO of Student Minds hopes the implementation will start to address the gap in mental health care for students.
“We’re calling on all education institutions to share these free, online resources with their students. There’s no reason that every school and university in the UK can’t share them with their students to give them the best start to university life. We’re delighted to have collaborated with TeenMentalHealth.Org and the SUN Universities Network to make this a reality.”
Dr. Kutcher is pleased to see these critical resources being used oversees and hopes it will help spark more interest from education institutions in Canada.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Student Minds who share our goal of improving mental health outcomes for youth by promoting mental health literacy in schools. These resources have been developed and well received in Canada. We look forward to seeing the same results across the UK,” says Dr. Stan Kutcher.
In addition to university campuses, the resources will also be made available online at http://www.studentminds.org.uk/transitions and are already freely available to download on the teenmentalhealth.org website: http://teenmentalhealth.org/transitions/ and http://teenmentalhealth.org/product/know-before-you-go/.
About Student Minds is the UK's student mental health charity. We empower students and members of the university community to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to look after their own mental health, support others and create change. We train students and staff in universities across the UK to deliver student-led peer support interventions as well as research-driven workshops and campaigns. By working collaboratively across sectors, we share best practice and ensure that the student voice influences decisions about student mental health.
About TeenMentalHealth.Org uses the best scientific evidence available to develop application-ready professional learning programs, publications, tools and resources to enhance the understanding of adolescent mental health. Dr. Stan Kutcher works to create, develop and deliver research, education and clinical programs by collaborating with its audiences.
Media contacts:
Mallory Comeau, Communications Coordinator
Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health
mallory.comeau@iwk.nshealth.ca
(902) 470-6582
Kate Elliot, Communications Coordinator
Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health
kate.elliot@iwk.nshealth.ca
(902) 440-7844