# University staff should not be responsible for mental health support
## The issue at hand
University staff are under increasing pressure to provide mental health support to students, but many are not trained mental health professionals and are struggling to cope with the demands of pastoral care.
## The problem with the solution
While students do need support, training university employees to act as mental health quasi-professionals is not a realistic solution. It is dangerous for both staff and students for non-professionals to provide such care. Additionally, adding such responsibilities to a workforce that is already striking over working conditions is not a viable solution.
## The root of the problem
The dire state of NHS mental health provision is the root of the problem. The Metropolitan police have recently announced that they will cease responding to mental health calls, which has shifted the focus to universities. However, this is not a sustainable solution.
## The real solution
The solution is to improve mental health provision across the community, including proper funding for NHS and university support services. It is not the responsibility of university staff to provide mental health support, and they should not be burdened with this responsibility.
## Personal experiences
One reader shared their experience as an approved social worker with mental health qualifications in the 1960s. They ran a system for dealing with patients who might have to be detained in mental hospitals, and very seldom called on the police. This was better for the patients.
Another reader shared their personal experience with a mentally ill family member who was kept safe by kindly policemen when they went out roaming darkened streets. They believe that in today’s society, with poverty and knife crime on the rise, mentally ill individuals would need those guardian angels in blue even more.
## Conclusion
University staff should not be responsible for mental health support. The solution is to improve mental health provision across the community, including proper funding for NHS and university support services. It is time to shift the focus to the root of the problem and provide the necessary resources for mental health support.
