On the 12th March 2020 the World Health Organisation announced COVID-19 had reached pandemic level. As a result, every student at Cardiff University has been affected in some way. Due to the deep uncertainty that follows the outbreak, pre-existing mental health conditions can worsen. People who haven’t experienced mental health issues may also be subject to increased mental health struggles such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

Despite the outbreak potentially leading to a public mental health crisis[1], Cardiff University have deemed it appropriate to no longer support students that aren’t currently receiving counselling. Alongside this, they have closed their 1-2-1 Counselling and Wellbeing support services with little explanation apart from being “unable to safely deliver the same level of service remotely”. They have offered no 1-2-1 alternative such as phone or video call for most students.

The department have stated:

“Following the University’s announcement to provide teaching and services remotely, we are suspending one to one appointments, workshops, courses, groups and drop-in services until further notice.” 

Ironically, despite highlighting that the University are rightly carrying on remotely, Student Support are failing to do so. Students suffering with mental health issues cannot access support they are entitled to at a time where student's mental health will be under pressure like never before. As a result, Cardiff University is neglecting its duty of care at this time of crisis. The Intervention team are still working; therefore people of high risk should not hesitate to seek help (please see link below). However this is anattempt to provide mitigating support before people reach crisis point.

Even without the impact of COVID-19, the summer exam period is a time of incredibly high stress for many students. This is usually a time where there is more pressure placed on mental health services and yet Cardiff University’s actions disregard this issue. It is irresponsible for Cardiff University to consider removing mental health provisions for students. The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of students will be widespread and long-standing. Clearly, now is not the time to scale back mental health provisions but, rather, to increase the provisions and services available.

Because of this, we are petitioning for the university to remotely re-open their Counselling and Wellbeing Support services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside this, all 1-2-1 appointments should NOT be suspended and instead should be replaced with a phone/video call alternative.

We are doing this as we want to ensure the mental health of Cardiff University students is sufficiently supported throughout this time.

If you have any concerns or urgent imminent advice please follow this link: https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students/health-and-wellbeing/urgent-advice

Please, if you can, SIGN THIS PETITION AND SHARE!

[1] https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0407_article