1. Piloting Apps: A College’s response to student mental health needs
Miss Jane Dove & Dr Jill Tidmarsh
Stephenson College, Durham University
Wednesday 16th November 2016

2. Stephenson College One of two Colleges based at Queen’s Campus
Limited range of programmes
Diverse community
Limited professional support resources

3. Mental Health in a Student Population
Transition to University is considered a relatively acute stressor (Gall et al, 2000)
NUS survey reported 78% of respondents had experiences problems with mental health in the last year (NUS, 2015)
54% of respondents did not seek any support
True extent of student mental health issues uncertain

4. Holistic approach to wellbeing
Positive interactions
Developing a community
Several referral routes
Empowering students
Early Interventions

5. The Apps Apps first accessed in November 2015 Y N APP:
Endorsed by NHS or similar?
Android
I Phone
Free to access all materials
Peer Forum/ Interaction
Basic Information
Mood Monitoring
Relaxing/ Grounding activities
Referral to sources of help in UK
Big White Wall Y N
Elefriends
Mindshift
Pacifica
SAM
Self Help
Wellmind
What's Up?
Worry Box
Apps first accessed in November 2015

6. The Pilot
Compatibility correct as of November 2015

7. The Pilot
November 2015
Targeted use at the onset of symptoms of low mood and anxiety
Initial step in early Intervention
Complementary support, not a substitute

8. What our students said Informative
“It explains what is happening which is reassuring” (2MHBA)
“It told you what to do in a crisis” 8MHBA
“Offer advice and info to understand and overcome things” (11FHAA)
Engaging
“Relaxation activities were helpful especially at night” (3MHBA)
“It’s discreet” (15MHBA)
“Used grounding techniques in exams helped a little but were still very difficult. Tried relaxation techniques and thought that they helped too.” (JD: 9FHAA)

9. Empowering
“He’s conscious he needs to start helping himself” (JD:7MOBA)
“Helped him to think about what exactly made him feel anxious – situations for example” (JD:8MHBA)
“She wasn’t just being silly and should seek help” (JD:10FHAL)
Convenience/ Timeliness
“Use it while out and about” (5FHEA)
“Likes that its discreet as just on his phone” (JD:15MHBA)
“Has helped her address it before it gets out of control” (JD:11FHAA)

10. Discussion Empowering autonomous interventions
‘Millennials’ – use of technology
Opportunities for further data analysis
Monitoring and further evaluation to continue

11. Limitations and looking forward
Limited Cohort
Not representative of our student body
Face to face feedback - Polite and eager to please?
Work in Progress
Explore a continued pilot (phase 2)
Increase our contextual data
Anonymous feedback
Wider target group
Longitudinal study over transitional period

12. Questions Contact: Miss Jane Dove jane.dove@durham.ac.uk
Dr Jill Tidmarsh