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This online event will critically examine the issue of over-pathologizing in student mental health services and explore the need to strike a balanced approach in supporting students. With an increasing focus on mental health within higher education, there is a risk of labelling typical student challenges as mental health disorders, which can have significant implications for both students and the services that support them.Ìý

Delegates will learn to identify the signs of over-pathologizing, assess its impact on student well-being, and critically evaluate current mental health support practices. The event will also provide strategies to help professionals provide more holistic and balanced care that addresses the diverse needs of students without over-medicalising their experiences.Ìý

Through case studies and practical examples, attendees will gain tools to reflect on their own practice, engage in meaningful discussions, and share insights with peers. By the end of the session, delegates will have a deeper understanding of how to provide more effective, student-centered mental health care and foster healthier approaches to mental well-being within higher education settings.Ìý

This event is ideal for counsellors, psychotherapists, and mental health professionals in higher education who would like to build on their existing clinical skills and contribute to the development of a supportive, empowering environment for students.Ìý

Event aims

The main aims of this event are to:

• Explore Over-Pathologizing in Student Mental Health Services:Ìý
  Examine whether current approaches in student mental health services are unintentionally over-pathologising normal challenges faced by students.Ìý
• Assess the Impact on Students and Services:Ìý
  Discuss the implications of over-pathologising on students’ well-being, autonomy, and the demand on counselling and mental health services.Ìý
• Encourage Reflection on Service Practices:Ìý
  Foster critical reflection on whether services are striking the right balance between offering support and promoting resilience and self-management among students.Ìý
• Promote Holistic and Balanced Approaches:Ìý
  Highlight strategies to align service provision with the nuanced needs of students, ensuring interventions are appropriate, effective, and empowering.Ìý
• Facilitate a Broader Discussion:Ìý
  Create a platform for dialogue among professionals to share insights, experiences, and best practices in managing student mental health.

Event learning outcomes

By attending this Working With event, delegates will:

• Understand the Concept of Over-Pathologizing:Ìý
  Gain a deeper understanding of what over-pathologizing means in the context of student mental health and the potential consequences of labelling normal student struggles as mental health disorders.Ìý
• Recognise the Impact on Students and Services:Ìý
  Learn about the implications of over-pathologizing for both students and mental health services, including how it can affect students' self-perception, autonomy, and the demand on support services.Ìý
• Evaluate Approaches to Mental Health Support:Ìý
  Develop the ability to critically evaluate current mental health support practices within their institutions and consider whether these approaches promote well-being or inadvertently contribute to over-pathologising.Ìý
• Explore Strategies for Striking the Right Balance:Ìý
  Gain practical insights into how to provide more balanced, effective support that addresses students' needs without over-medicalizing their experiences. This includes learning to differentiate between genuine mental health conditions and common developmental challenges.Ìý
• Enhance Professional Practice and Reflection:Ìý
  Learn strategies to foster reflection and open conversations about mental health support within their teams, helping to create a more mindful and student-centered approach to mental health care in higher education settings.Ìý
• Strengthen Peer and Professional Networks:Ìý
  Take advantage of the opportunity to network with peers in the field, sharing experiences and best practices that can inform their ongoing professional development and approach to student mental health.Ìý

Programme

The event will begin at 9.30am and finish around 1pm.

The programme will be available to view closer to the time.

Key Information

What's included

Your booking includes:

• approximately three hours of CPD presentations
• a CPD certificate download
• selected presentation slides
• access to the on-demand service

Event information

The event will take place on Wednesday 18 June 2025.

Joining instructions and the event kink will be sent to the email linked to your Íø±¬ÃÅ account at least 48 hours before the event.

On-demand

Access to the on-demand service, for three months after the event, is included in your booking. The service can be accessed an unlimited number of times, 24 hours a day.

The on-demand service will be available from Wednesday 18 June 2025 until Thursday 18 September 2025.

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