**NOTE: Please include your matric number in the comments section if you're happy to do so**
Over the last year, the University’s Student Counselling Service has seen a 45% increase in demand, with waiting times currently at around 7 weeks. To cope with this increased demand, the number of counselling sessions offered to students has been reduced from 6 to 4, with an exception for students considered to be “at risk”, who will continue to receive up to 6 sessions. As a result, students whose mental health is suffering cannot access the help they need at the time they need it, often having to wait weeks in crisis before counselling is available.
We don't think this is good enough. At the moment, resources for the Counselling Service fall far short of what is necessary; we believe the University must take responsibility for the welfare of its students, and a fully resourced Counselling Service is essential to ensure students are supported while they study.
We're calling on the University to increase funding to the Student Counselling Service, so it can provide the additional counsellors and space needed to improve the support offered to students.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
April 6, 2016
April 4, 2016
The administration is watching these numbers and we are almost at 500 signatures. It has been a long and exhausting process but we need one final push to demand the funding this service requires.
Reached 100 supporters
March 24, 2016
189 Comments
The support available for students in need of counselling is ridiculously limited in general. The university is often the first and last source of this support. The university seems unable to grasp the concept that for a student to take the step to request counselling, they have most-likely gotten to an extremely low point in their lives. An additional 7 week waiting time is nonsensical and counterproductive to them and the success of the university. And then 4 weeks of counselling?? Not good enough for high school, never mind UoE. Shout-out to the counselors and support staff that provide this service. Student counselling should be top priority. s1208374
The EXTREME waiting time prevented me from getting the help I desperately needed, when I needed it the most. I was offered counselling over 7 weeks later, after having suffered alone for an extended time and my academic work being severely impacted. Even 6 weeks is far too long - it should be no more than 3 at most. 7 is completely unacceptable.
If students had to wait this long to get contraceptives, or medical treatment regarding physical illness, there would be riots. What makes mental health any less important, or any less dangerous when left unchecked?
7-8 week waiting times? Astonishingly under-resourced service, for such a well funded university. The lack of funding and bureaucracy involved, is very difficult to comprehend. They should not be playing catch-up, with support for vulnerable students. This issue should be at the very top of the agenda!
As someone who has undergone the full 6 weeks of counselling an felt like it wasn't enough - 4 weeks is simply inadequate to provide real help and support for students undergoing hard times. I also feel that priority should be given to students who can't afford counselling elsewhere.
s1207522
s1440598
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**NOTE: Please include your matric number in the comments section if you're happy to do so**
Over the last year, the University’s Student Counselling Service has seen a 45% increase in demand, with waiting times currently at around 7 weeks. To cope with this increased demand, the number of counselling sessions offered to students has been reduced from 6 to 4, with an exception for students considered to be “at risk”, who will continue to receive up to 6 sessions. As a result, students whose mental health is suffering cannot access the help they need at the time they need it, often having to wait weeks in crisis before counselling is available.
We don't think this is good enough. At the moment, resources for the Counselling Service fall far short of what is necessary; we believe the University must take responsibility for the welfare of its students, and a fully resourced Counselling Service is essential to ensure students are supported while they study.
We're calling on the University to increase funding to the Student Counselling Service, so it can provide the additional counsellors and space needed to improve the support offered to students.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
April 6, 2016
April 4, 2016
The administration is watching these numbers and we are almost at 500 signatures. It has been a long and exhausting process but we need one final push to demand the funding this service requires.
Reached 100 supporters
March 24, 2016
189 Comments
I think counselling is a crucial university service. The competitive higher education system can produce or exacerbate mental health problems. The university should recognise the demands that a stressful academic life makes of students (as well as staff), which are part and parcel of the system. It has an obligation to provide support in tandem with education. Not only is this a moral duty, but it also creates a positive work and study environment, which could reflect well on Edinburgh University as an institution.
The support available for students in need of counselling is ridiculously limited in general. The university is often the first and last source of this support. The university seems unable to grasp the concept that for a student to take the step to request counselling, they have most-likely gotten to an extremely low point in their lives. An additional 7 week waiting time is nonsensical and counterproductive to them and the success of the university. And then 4 weeks of counselling?? Not good enough for high school, never mind UoE. Shout-out to the counselors and support staff that provide this service. Student counselling should be top priority. s1208374
The EXTREME waiting time prevented me from getting the help I desperately needed, when I needed it the most. I was offered counselling over 7 weeks later, after having suffered alone for an extended time and my academic work being severely impacted. Even 6 weeks is far too long - it should be no more than 3 at most. 7 is completely unacceptable.
If students had to wait this long to get contraceptives, or medical treatment regarding physical illness, there would be riots. What makes mental health any less important, or any less dangerous when left unchecked?
7-8 week waiting times? Astonishingly under-resourced service, for such a well funded university. The lack of funding and bureaucracy involved, is very difficult to comprehend. They should not be playing catch-up, with support for vulnerable students. This issue should be at the very top of the agenda!
As someone who has undergone the full 6 weeks of counselling an felt like it wasn't enough - 4 weeks is simply inadequate to provide real help and support for students undergoing hard times. I also feel that priority should be given to students who can't afford counselling elsewhere.
s1207522
s1440598
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I think counselling is a crucial university service. The competitive higher education system can produce or exacerbate mental health problems. The university should recognise the demands that a stressful academic life makes of students (as well as staff), which are part and parcel of the system. It has an obligation to provide support in tandem with education. Not only is this a moral duty, but it also creates a positive work and study environment, which could reflect well on Edinburgh University as an institution.