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Who we are
The Office for Students (OfS) issued a Mental Health Challenge Competition in 2019 focusing on student mental health in Higher Education Institutions. A partnership including Mersey Care Trust, led by the University of Liverpool, was successful in securing £770K funding for two new projects: one as the leading partner on a Liverpool project and the other as a regional hub within a national collaborative project with other HEI institutions.
Working with our partners University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Brownlow Health and The Innovation Agency, the projects aim to work strategically across the Trust to improve student pathways into NHS mental health services and will also develop new campus-based clinical mental health services to support the student population.
The Student Mental Health Partnerships project will:
- Introduce new clinical mental health services on UoL and LJMU campuses
- Work in partnership to improve pathways into mental health services for students
- Co-produce the design and delivery of care with students and practitioners
- Evaluate effective models of multi-agency partnership working
- Disseminate and share project learning, being at the forefront of innovation and practice.
Clinical services
In October 2020 we launched the UCOPE self-harm service. Following this, in February 2021 we launched the U-CAN service; a Psycho-Social Education group offer, co-produced with students.
UCOPE Therapy
UCOPE therapy, (University Community Outpatient Psychotherapy Engagement) is a self-harm service designed for those who have recently self-harmed, or those who struggle with self-harming currently.
Read Danielle's story in MC Magazine.
A six session PIT/CAT intervention, this service is available to current students of University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University and can be accessed by practitioner referrals. Currently referrals are accepted from University Support Services and Brownlow Health GP practices. Other referrals from Mersey Care Services may be accepted via contact through Liaison with the team.
This service is open to all students across Liverpool.
U-CAN Group Skills
U-CAN is a six week psycho-social skills education group aimed to help students to develop skills which can positively impact how you manage your mental health. The weekly sessions will provide practical tools and skills to help you improve your levels of stress, anxiety, and persistent low mood. Referrals into this service are currently via each Universities Wellbeing Team.
Liaison
The new liaison model is aiming to enhance student journeys through clinical referrals and services. It means that Mersey Care come into contact with students in crisis and follow up within 48 hours to check in and link them with the right support service from NHS or University Services. After monitoring, information will be presented at Multi-Disciplinary Team (working groups containing NHS, University and Student representation) meetings to overlook progress and ensure practitioners can share best practice and receive the latest information.
UCOPE and U-CAN referrals can be made via the university, Brownlow Health and other Mersey Care services such as urgent care, early intervention and A&E.
Mersey Care teams should refer to the liaison team via: universitystudentsMH