The adverse impacts of all-institutional mental health and wellbeing policies on university careers guidance

Abstract

Sixteen careers advisers based in five Scottish universities were asked a range of questions designed to explore possible impacts of alterations in student mental health and wellbeing on their practice. Through combining key insights from a critical analysis of the relevant literature and policy documents with others that were gleaned from the views of practitioners themselves, evidence is provided for conclusions which suggest that shifts in how universities support psychological health may not only fuel concerns but also change how students and careers advisers engage in one-to-one careers guidance appointments. Recommendations were first that given these holistic mental health and wellbeing policies may well be contributing to a poorer student outlook, then they should be reviewed immediately. Secondly, as these preventative approaches have obliged careers advisers to change how they work with students, their ongoing role, training and practice requires pressing reappraisal.