New on-site mental health support proves invaluable for West Sussex students

The college teamed up with West Sussex Mind for a project providing support to students at the West Durrington campus, as well as mental health training for staff and students.

Han Bachtiger-Millard, West Sussex Mind’s peer youth mental health worker, said: “My role has been to build rapport and provide a dedicated space for students to talk about the issues they are facing at home or in college. The aim is not to solve problems but to use my lived experience to talk, listen and focus on achievable goals.”

The project was launched in response to rising mental health needs, particularly since the pandemic, and received £11,500 funding from the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund.

Features have included fortnightly support sessions, first aid training, a student wellbeing event during Mental Health Awareness Week in May, and workshops on social media – developed in response to real challenges experienced on campus.

Peer support sessions were designed for students needing extra help with issues such as loneliness, online bullying, exam stress and relationship challenges. The informal, empathetic approach offered a safe space to talk openly and focus on wellbeing.

Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with close to 100 per cent attendance rates for the fortnightly sessions.

Laura Roberts, mental health adviser at Northbrook College, said: “There is a lot of disconnect among young people – many of them are lonely and isolated and this is a theme that we’ve seen become more prominent each year.

"To be able to sit down with someone at college who is more their age, is boundaried and gently challenges them, has been truly priceless for our students.”

The strong partnership has helped create a successful model that could be used in other college settings across West Sussex.

Sarah Wood, youth mental health manager at West Sussex Mind, said: “Peer support at Northbrook College proved to be a big success with high levels of engagement from young people, who came back week after week for their sessions.

“This project is a testament to close collaboration between West Sussex Mind and the college’s wellbeing team to work out what their young people needed, agree safeguarding procedures and offer avenues for young people to come into our recovery services. It’s given us a great model that could be embedded elsewhere across West Sussex.”

Worthing Borough Council said staff had seen an increasing need for mental health support since the pandemic. The college’s wellbeing and safeguarding team already offers support but this project had filled a gap in provision for students who needed help with issues like exam stress, loneliness, online bullying, relationship problems and setting achievable goals.