OnDemand: The Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference 2026
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*Presentation decks for speakers who have given permission for their materials to be shared
Supporters Included
2026 Overview
Changes in higher education, academic and financial pressures, uncertainty, and an unpredictable job market are intensifying pressures on students, making mental health and wellbeing more critical than ever. Despite growing awareness, NHS mental health services remain under immense pressure, leading to additional strain on Higher Education Providers (HEPs) (Department for Education, 2026). A multi-agency reformed approach is crucial to confront mental health challenges and prioritise effective care pathways from early intervention to crisis, otherwise risking worsening student wellbeing, and fragmented support.
With major UK reforms underway to address student mental health, it is essential that student support teams stay informed about government initiatives to avoid unsustainable or outdated practices. Now is the time to align strategies, build sustainable partnerships and ensure students have access to the right care and the right support.
The Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference 2026 examined the latest government initiatives tackling the rising challenge of student mental health and explores the obstacles faced by service providers at leading universities. It highlights practical solutions for delivering effective support and offers clear guidance on next steps to strengthen student support pathways.
2026 Agenda
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Professor Juliet Foster, Dean of Education, King’s College London
Keynote: The Evolving Landscape of Student Mental Health: Current Challenges, Policy Developments, and Future Directions
- Exploring the changing policy and regulatory landscape shaping student mental health and wellbeing, and what it means for education providers and support services
- Examining the latest trends in student mental health, emerging pressures, and key evidence to identify priority challenges and inform effective, student-centred support
- Considering what the changing policy and student mental health landscape means for the future of education, including how curriculum, programme design and the wider student learning experience may need to evolve
Professor Amanda Bragg-Mollison, Deputy Head of School Education and Professor of Luxury Marketing, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton
Keynote: Strengthening Student Support Pathways: How You Can Use Digital Resources for Earlier Intervention
- See how you can use accredited digital health resources – including the Student Health App — to widen access to reliable wellbeing information alongside existing services
- Understand what makes a digital resource trustworthy – and how to assess tools you’re offered
- Learn how co-designing resources with students improves uptake and relevance
- Take away practical steps for building effective self-care support and signposting into your student support pathway
Dr Knut Schroeder, GP and Honorary Senior Lecturer in General Practice, University of Bristol, Founder, Expert Self Care, Advisory Board, Patient Information Forum
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: The Power of Early Intervention: Engaging in Student Care Before Crisis
- Examining the importance of early intervention to provide timely support, reduce the number of students in crisis, and ease pressure on providers
- Guidance on how to effectively aid students during the waiting period
- Exploring early intervention tactics such as mindfulness, reducing stigma, social prescribing, peer-to-peer support, and workshops to ensure students receive support at every stage
- Assessing the diverse factors that lead to student mental health issues to provide wellbeing and early intervention strategies that align with all students
Bonnie Amato, Head of Student Wellbeing, King’s College London
Case Study: A Whole-University Approach to Mental Health
- Guidance on how to create environments that prioritise mental health and wellbeing from a University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) 2025 awarded university
- Assessing a whole-university approach in compliance with the UMHC to ensure commitment from higher education providers by the end of 2026
- Critical examination of UMHC Action Plan with expert takeaways to further progress your student support delivery
- Deep dive into Learn, Support, Work and Live domains, evaluating current strategies, diverse student needs, and identifying improvements to deliver robust and comprehensive support across the university
Mal Fitzgerald, Deputy Director Student Wellbeing & Welfare, Teesside University
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote: International Student Mental Health: Institutional Approaches and Strategic Priorities
- Examining the diverse experiences that international students face to ensure all identities, cultures and experiences are effectively supported
- Sharing insights into international student mental health to provide wellbeing providers with strategies and greater understandings of the complexities which differ from UK-domiciled students
- Navigating the challenge of non-transferable approaches to international students including intersecting identities, cultural differences and language barriers
- Actionable next steps to make support services more culturally inclusive to provide structured support for international students
Dominic Smithies, Head of Influencing and Communications, Student Minds
Case Study: Embedding Inclusion in Student Mental Health: Supporting Diverse Identities
- LSBU was the first University to publish its Disabled Student Commitment in July 2025
- Using the Disabled Student Commitment to complement the work of the University Mental Health Charter
- Embedding student voice and participation to develop services and initiatives
- Developing strategies for an inclusive approach to student support networks, through identifying whole-university strategies and providing a safe and supportive environment for all students
Luke Howson, Head of Student Success, London South Bank University
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Fireside Chat: Delivering Effective Support for Students in Crisis: Complex Wellbeing Cases, Self-Harm and Suicide
- Guidance on how to effectively support students in crisis and ensuring urgent support is effective with structured crisis plans
- Exploring approaches to preventing student suicide through policy reformation which strengthens student support strategies
- Creating suicide prevention plans that are evidence-based, focusing on debunking myths and providing actionable prevention and intervention strategies
- Highlighting the importance of a multi-agency approach to student care pathways in collaboration with GPs, the NHS and local authorities to ensure little distress for a student in crisis
Dr Tim Alnuamaani, Consultant Psychiatrist, Greater Manchester University Student Mental Health Services
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Professor Juliet Foster, Dean of Education, King’s College London
Conference Close
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OnDemand
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2026 Speakers
Professor Juliet Foster
Dean of Education
King's College London
Bonnie Amato
Head of Student Wellbeing
King's College London
Mal Fitzgerald
Deputy Director Student Wellbeing & Welfare
Teesside University
Dominic Smithies
Head of Influencing and Communications
Student Minds
Luke Howson
Head of Student Success
London South Bank University
Jane Harris
Co-Director of Student Welfare and Support Services and Head of Counselling
University of Oxford
Dr Tim Alnuamaani
Consultant Psychiatrist
Greater Manchester University Student Mental Health Services
Dr Knut Schroeder
GP and Honorary Senior Lecturer in General Practice, Founder, Advisory Board
University of Bristol, Expert Self Care, Patient Information Forum
Testimonials
The Student Mental Health & Wellbeing Conference provided so many rich ideas and points to consider in relation to how we build a whole university approach to student wellbeing.
This was an amazing event with lots of relevant information and ‘food for thought’!
Really informative session by excellent speakers who are clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about supporting student mental health in HE.
Attending the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference was an incredibly valuable experience. The sessions were insightful, the speakers knowledgeable, and the networking opportunities excellent. I left with a wealth of new strategies and ideas to implement in my work. Highly recommended!
This is the first year I have attended this event and was pleased with how well organised it was. From registering, to the end of the day, it all seemed to flow very well and there were no hiccups along the way. The guest speakers were very knowledgeable and answered any and all questions people had. Would highly recommend to anyone working with students!
Good conference – really good agenda followed with expert insight with supporting a student’s mental health and wellbeing in HE. 
A wonderful day of opportunity to hear from other universities and mental health organisations about ways to support our students and break down barriers.
Support and Information
Some of the issues explored in this programme may be difficult or personally relevant. If you have been affected by the subject matter, specialist organisations are available that may be able to provide information, advice and support. View support and advice.
Please note that we are a professional conference and learning provider and are not a crisis or specialist support service.
