Session Outline

Across the sector, there is growing pressure on colleagues to improve student retention, progression, graduate outcomes and the overall student experience. At the same time, growing and more diverse cohorts mean that many more students are disclosing mental health difficulties and complex personal circumstances. (Calabrese, G. et al 2022).

The mental health crisis among students has been mounting year on year and has been exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic (Student Mental Health 2022) creating increased anxiety, uncertainty, and stress for students as well as impacting on their potential graduate prospects, increasing the student mental health crisis (Pradeep 2020). Recent research from Student Minds suggests that around three in five students experience poor mental health during their studies, highlighting the scale of the challenge for institutions and for those in personal tutoring roles.

Personal tutors are often the first point of contact when students are anxious, distressed or unsure where to turn. Yet many tutors report feeling under-prepared and lacking confidence to respond effectively, manage boundaries, and signpost appropriately to specialist services. If we are serious about supporting student futures, we must better equip tutors to have safe, compassionate and purposeful conversations about mental health.

This session introduces a practical training package and toolkit designed to build tutors’ confidence and capability in this area. The approach combines coaching-style conversations, structured role plays using realistic scenarios, and clear guides to institutional and external support services. Delegates will explore common dilemmas in mental-health-related tutoring, practise language they can use in difficult conversations, and consider how to adapt the toolkit for their own context. By the end of the session, participants will leave with concrete strategies, resources and ideas to strengthen their personal tutoring practice and contribute positively to student wellbeing and success.

Learning Outcomes

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