Tertiary Learner Mental Health: The Development of a National Framework

Due to the escalating numbers and acuity of learner presentations related to poor mental health in the tertiary environment, this work-based project to address this public health issue is not only timely, but critical. Suzie’s motivation for researching tertiary learner mental health was her personal experiences of distressed learners. Her practitioner thesis demonstrates that colleagues nationally are faced with learners presenting in similar distressing situations. The impact of this work is to inject much needed support for tertiary learners, that can be accessed prior to them becoming distressed to avoid crisis presentations. Suzie's Doctorate of Professional Practice research saw educators share with her their personal experiences with distressed learners through semi-structured interviews. All data was analysed by engaging with a thematic approach to reveal three overarching key themes: resilience; environment; and mental ill-health. The Safe MINDed Mental Health Accreditation framework was developed by Suzie as a result of her doctoral research. The framework opens a space to create national and international positive change in creating a stigma-free culture associated with mental ill-health of learners and to heighten their wellbeing. This support is twofold; implementation of primary support which learners can access through presenting to Student Support Services, and secondary support through workforce education that will aid staff within tertiary institutions to have the confidence and the tools to assist and triage distressed learners effectively.

About the Presenter
@Suzie Bartlett (RN, Dip Comp Nur, MHEd, DPP) is a Principal Lecturer in the School of Nursing at Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand. She has 17 years experience working as a clinical nurse in acute care, primary health and mental health before joining Otago Polytechnic where she has been a mental health nurse educator for the last 11 years. Suzie completed her Doctor of Professional Practice in February 2022; her research focus was on tertiary learner mental health and wellbeing and the development of a national framework. Suzie has published journal articles nationally and internationally in relation to the mental health of tertiary learners, disrupted learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the merits of mental health simulation in nursing education.