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London Higher launch Wellbeing Connect discovery tool to connect London students with NHS services

Today 12 October London Higher, a membership organisation for London’s higher education sector, today  launch Wellbeing Connect, helping mental health and wellbeing leads at London-based higher education institutions link students with local NHS wellbeing services. The dedicated website allows students and staff to find appropriate NHS services in their area quickly at the time that they need them.

The tool, owned by London Higher and developed in partnership with JISC and mental health leads from across London’s higher education sector, is designed to help the student wellbeing professionals at each institution know where to refer students wherever is best suited to them, even if out of borough for the institution. Available at wellbeing.connect.londonhigher.ac.uk, the interactive website will enable students to look after their own  mental wellbeing and find nearby NHS services. The tool will also flag which services have an existing relationship with one of the consortium’s member institutions.

Sally Olohan MBE, Head of Student Support and Residential Life, University of Westminster, and Chair of the Wellbeing Connect steering group said;

“ We are delighted to launch Wellbeing Connect today. The development of this tool shows how institutions across London can come together to support students across the city, no matter where they live or study.

Working collaboratively, we have been able to engage student services practitioners and students across the capital throughout the development process. This has ensured that the tool reflects the needs of our students, improving access to information about NHS and other specialist services that can make a real difference to their health and wellbeing while they are studying.”

Dr Diana Beech, CEO of London Higher said:

“Student services in London are very familiar with the NHS services in their local area. However, London is vast and the city’s students are geographically diverse. Some may be moving into London for the first time, or from a different area of the city where provision is different.

“This tool aims to make finding nearby NHS services for London’s students easier and helps students and staff to use and recommend services that are trusted and proven through existing institutional relationships.”

The tool returns text information and also offers the opportunity to search using an interactive map.  The Tool will be configured for mobile phone use (as well as PC) and will be accessibility compliant on all devices.

Karen Foster, Executive Director for Data Analytics at Jisc, said:

“Helping students get access to support for their wellbeing is critical and this tool helps students and staff quickly navigate to find help for their specific needs and in their local area. The tool and its design have been delivered through excellent collaboration with London Higher, institutional staff and students, and Jisc as the technology partner.”

Notes to editors.

Members of the Wellbeing connect steering group are;

University of Westminster

University of the Arts, London

Goldsmiths University, London

City University, London

SOAS

LSE

University of Roehampton

University of London

University of West London

Royal Holloway, University of London

London Met

LSBU

Royal Vet School

University of East London

University of Greenwich

University of London