University staff need support to help 'acutely stressed and suicidal' students, says psychological society

University staff need more support to help students who are becoming 'acutely stressed and suicidal' under the weight of studies, a top psychological group has claimed.

The British Psychological Society is today (March 5) calling for all universities to make the mental health of their students a top priority.

They say all members of staff from professors to cleaners should be trained to spot students in crisis - with signs ranging from a student missing classes to seeing their accommodation in chaos.

In response, the University of Northampton says it is ahead of the curve over the society's advice - and have been training lecturers, staff and even students for years on how to spot that people around them might need help.

The university - which in 1997 became the first in the UK to establish a mental health service - says 135 staff and even 760 students trained in 'mental health first aid' to spot the signs of common mental health issues and guide them to the right support.

In addition, it offers a counselling service, a mental health service and a drop-in service that runs every day.

Jo Lester, who co-ordinates the university's counselling and mental health services, said: "Since the Government's 'widening access to higher education' initiative we've had students from many more different backgrounds who might not have had any family members go to university.

"On top of that, students are under more financial pressures, they are moving away from home and many have to work alongside their degrees. There are more factors than ever weighing on their mental health.

"The University of Northampton is in many ways ahead of the curve [sic] and has an award-winning mental health first aid project."