I want to explore an intervention that seeks to improve mental health literacy through participatory library sessions that utilise specialist collections capable of revealing authentic voices. This project is derived from my long-term investment in the area of mental health literacy, combined with research I have undertaken with the charity Bipolar UK. In terms of my own positionality, I come from a place of having studied for multiple degrees with an undiagnosed major mental health condition, and on reflection recognised the unmet need of mental health literacy and reflective forums on mental health; all of which would have significantly helped me. It is also reflected in my experience as an HE Manager of 20 years prior to becoming a librarian, where statistically the runaway reason for students failing degrees or deferring work was recorded as due to mental health issues. Here there is the need to step beyond the HESA return data provided in university dashboards which is woefully inadequate when seeking to disclose the bigger picture around mental health in universities.
As I noted in my first blog post, intersections between mental health conditions and factors such as race or faith can contribute to strategies of avoidance, as well as the breakdown of help and information seeking behaviour. I want to develop an intervention that directly challenges this particular form of masking, using the library’s communal status, its wellbeing spaces and the mental health focused publications from its Zine collection.
The aim being to develop a session that coincides with key event such as mental health day or induction/welcome periods. Rather than situate the session in terms of a drop in for those requiring help, other UAL services provides this, the sessions would be a chance to engage with the authentic voices of the zine makers exploring these topics. Students being encouraged to learn more, reflect on their own wellbeing and think about how they may support their friends and colleagues, in line with the basics of mental health first aider training. This would be structured around a group led reflection and discussion of the material followed by an optional zine making exercise.
Mental Health Literacy References
- Chambers, D.[., Murphy, F. and Inspire Ireland Foundation., (2011) Learning to reach out : young people, mental health literacy and the internet. Dublin: Inspire Ireland Foundation.
- Crawford, P.1. (2022) Mental health literacy and young people. First edition. edn. United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing.
- Eisenbach, B. and Frydman, J.S.1. (2021) Fostering mental health literacy through adolescent literature. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
- Goodfellow, C.L. and University of Strathclyde, (2020) Mental health literacy and intended help-seeking in adolescence. Great Britain]: University of Strathclyde.
- Joshi, R. and University of Leicester, (2022) Mental health literacy : conceptualisation, measurement, and the relationship within wider student mental health. Great Britain: University of Leicester.
- Wood, S.M.K., Pearson, L., Kucharska, J., University of Warwick. Department of Psychology, and Coventry University. Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, (2017) Mental health literacy and mental health in at-risk populations, Coventry; Coventry: University of Warwick; Coventry University.
Intersectionality and Mental Health References
- Hallett, K. (2015) Intersectionality and serious mental illness—A case study and recommendations for practice. Women & Therapy, 38(1-2), pp.156-174.
- Havers, L., Shuai, R., Fonagy, P., Fazel, M., Morgan, C., Fancourt, D., McCrone, P., Smuk, M., Bhui, K., Shakoor, S. and Hosang, G.M. (2024) Youth adversity and trajectories of depression/anxiety symptoms in adolescence in the context of intersectionality in the United Kingdom. Psychological medicine, pp.1-11.
- Oexle, N. and Corrigan, P.W. (2018) Understanding mental illness stigma toward persons with multiple stigmatized conditions: Implications of intersectionality theory. Psychiatric Services, 69(5), pp.587-589.
- Seng, J.S., Lopez, W.D., Sperlich, M., Hamama, L. and Meldrum, C.D.R.(2012) Marginalized identities, discrimination burden, and mental health: Empirical exploration of an interpersonal-level approach to modeling intersectionality. Social science & medicine, 75(12), pp.2437-2445.
- van Mens-Verhulst, J. and Radtke, L. (2008) Intersectionality and mental health: A case study. Health Care, 1, pp.1-19.
UK Universities and Mental Health References
- Arday, J. (2022) No one can see me cry: Understanding mental health issues for Black and minority ethnic staff in higher education. Higher Education, 83(1), pp.79-102.
- Cage, E., Stock, M., Sharpington, A., Pitman, E. and Batchelor, R. (2020) Barriers to accessing support for mental health issues at university. Studies in Higher Education, 45(8), pp.1637-1649.
- Campbell, F., Blank, L., Cantrell, A., Baxter, S., Blackmore, C., Dixon, J. and Goyder, E. (2022) Factors that influence mental health of university and college students in the UK: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 22(1), p.1778.
- Duffy, A., Saunders, K.E., Malhi, G.S., Patten, S., Cipriani, A., McNevin, S.H., MacDonald, E. and Geddes, J.,(2019) Mental health care for university students: a way forward?. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(11), pp.885-887.
- Kotera, Y., Conway, E. and Van Gordon, W .(2019) Mental health of UK university business students: Relationship with shame, motivation and self-compassion. Journal of Education for Business, 94(1), pp.11-20.
- Macaskill, A. (2013) The mental health of university students in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 41(4), pp.426-441.
- Macaskill, A. (2018) Undergraduate mental health issues: The challenge of the second year of study. Journal of Mental Health, 27(3), pp.214-221.
- Punton, G., Dodd, A.L. and McNeill, A. (2022) ‘You’re on the waiting list’: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of young adults’ experiences of waiting lists within mental health services in the UK. Plos one, 17(3), p.e0265542.
- Sahakian, B.J., Malloch, G. and Kennard, C. (2010) A UK strategy for mental health and wellbeing. The Lancet, 375(9729), pp.1854-1855.
- Thorley, C. (2017) Not By Degrees: Not by degrees: Improving student mental health in the UK’s universities. IPPR: London, UK.
Mental Health Zines Examples
- Lockdown diaries: mental health. (2020) Place of publication not identified]: A disordered mind.
- The mental health survival guide (2019) , United Kingdom]: Publisher not identified].
- Mental health & creative healing. (2017) London, England]: Shades of Noir.
- The SUARTS mental wellbeing zine. (2015) London, England: Students’ Union, University of the Arts London.
- Li’l darlin’. (2014) Belfast, Northern Ireland: Li’l darlin’.
- Get a grip: travels through my mental health. (2010) Wellington, NZ]: the Author.
- Pathologize this!: a mental health zine. (2008) Montreal: the Authors].
- A crooked stare: never knowingly understood. (1995) Bromley, England: Crooked stare.
- Trich witch. (0000///201?]) United Kingdom]: Publisher not identified].
- AIWS (2017) Why am I so easy to replace?: zine about disability and mental health. Alameda, California]: AIWS.
- Applebee, J. (0000///publication date unknown]) All in my head?: mental health. England]: Jacq Applebee.
- Crabb, C. (2006) Doris. Asheville, North Carolina: Doris.
- Laura-Marie (2009) Functionally ill: : adventures with mental health. Place of publication not identified: Laura-Marie.
- Merfemme Distro, (2017) Radical vulnerability and mental health. Berlin, Germany: Merfemme Distro.
- Moyer, N. (2015) Black women & self care: thoughts on mental health, oppression & healing /, Toronto, Ontario]: élastiquedesigns.
- Olive, R.R. (2017) A is for awkward : : an ABC of madness. London]: Rachel Rowan Olive.
- Peregrine (2011) Entropy. Olympia, Washington: Peregrine].
- Richards, P. (2017) Planted: a zine about dissociation. United Kingdom]: Polly Richards].
- Sarti, G. (2020) Shit’s fucked, still: another positivity guide, Oakland, California: Gina Sarti.