PATOSS and ProtectED: A busy week for UMHAN
It’s been a busy week for UMHAN, with two of our committee members presenting at conferences and training days.
Patoss: mental health difficulties and students with SpLDs
In London, Hannah presented at a training day run by Patoss. Patoss is a professional association for staff working with students with specific learning difficulties.
UMHAN’s talk focused on the challenges students with Specific Learning Difficulties face to their mental health while studying at university, providing guidance on how a SpLD professional might identify and tackle warning signs in the students they work with. Hannah’s advice covered the following:
- Look out for warning signs, including marked changes in behaviour and signs a student is not managing their usual activities.
- Discuss and encourage disability disclosure, including disclosure of a mental health difficulty if applicable.
- Be aware of mental health specific support available, within the university and beyond.
- Request permission from the student to liaise with other support available.
Hannah said: “It was a pleasure to be invited to present - the audience was so engaged. As comorbidity of mental health difficulties and SpLDs is common, the day was a great opportunity to share strategies for supporting students in this position.”
ProtectED: Security in Education
In Salford, Lisa spoke at the Security in Education Conference organised by ProtectED, a student safety code of practice that rewards universities who show a commitment to all-round student wellbeing. Read more about ProtectED’s work and UMHAN’s involvement here.As part of a packed day of discussion of the varied aspects of student safety, Lisa brought the mental health perspective, discussing trends in student mental health and methods to increase support available.
Hannah Abrahams, Mental Health Promotion Working Group
Lisa Brooks-Lewis, Press & PR Working Group
