Student mental health action plan: equality impact assessment results

Key Findings

The EQIA highlighted that the proposed measure would have a positive impact on all the protected characteristics.

Age: The measures should enable, through an inclusive approach to the development of Student Mental Health Agreement (SMHA), all students, the majority of whom (60%) are under 24, to access, in line with the general population, preventive and acute services.

Disability: The measures should enable disabled students to better access a range of preventive and acute services by involving them in the Student Mental Health Agreement (SMHA) process.

The Thriving Learners Survey for colleges highlighted that “the largest identified disability or long-term health condition was ‘Mental health difficulties’ with over a third (36%) of respondents identifying with it. The next largest category with nearly 1 in 5 (17%) was a learning difficulty”. In universities, the largest identified disability or long-term health condition was “Mental health difficulties’ with a quarter (25.2%) of respondents identifying with it. The next largest category with just under 1 in 10 (9.4%) was unseen disability or health condition”.

Sex: The measures apply to all students but recognise that there is a gendered component to mental health conditions and the stigma, especially for men, in talking about such conditions and getting help. The Action Plan highlights the importance of collaborative working across the public and third sector, including SeeMe, on this issue.

Pregnancy and Maternity: The measures should enable pregnant students to also access a range of preventive and support services.

Gender Reassignment: The measures should enable all students to access a range of preventive services, with a particular focus on addressing access and stigma by involving them in the SMHA process. It recognises that young trans people have significant mental health issues when compared to the general population, with LGBT Youth Scotland reporting that 1 in 5 leave education as result of homophobia, biphobia or transphobia.

Sexual Orientation: The measures should, by improving access to services for all students and by LGB+ student involvement with SMHAs, enable the needs of LGB+ students to be addressed. The measure recognises that LGB+ students face significant issues around self-harm and stigma.

Race: The measures should enable improved access to culturally appropriate services by involving black and minority ethnic (BME) students in SMHAs. The measures recognise that BME students face a number of issues in relation to mental health in accessing culturally appropriate services and which may include communication issues.

Religion and Belief: The measures should ensure that SMHAs continue to reflect the diversity of their student population - over one third have a religious belief or faith identity. SMHAs should include information on how students can support their own mental health and wellbeing through access to, and participation in, student clubs and societies, including sport and culture, peer support, and the provision of opportunities for students, if they so wish, to identify with and participate in a faith community of their choice.