Enabling and supporting learners and staff to declare mental health difficulties

• To identify and share good practice that will enable learners to declare mental health difficulties, trusting that their needs will be met
• To support the development of policies and procedures that enable staff to declare mental health issues, trusting that their needs will be met
• Increase the awareness of the benefits of declaring a mental health difficult, enabling staff and learners to make an informed choice to declare or not
• Increase levels of declaration by staff and learners with mental health difficulties

We have recruited nine pilot sites from across England; the group includes education providers, voluntary organisations, local authorities and health trusts, all of whom are working with and interested in improving access to services for people with mental health difficulties. The pilot sites were asked to identify the levels of declaration amongst their organisation and identify areas where levels are low; to review the policies, procedures and resources that provide learners and staff with guidance and support; to work with partners to review and evaluate the guidance they give to learners about making a declaration and the benefits of learning; and work with staff, learners and partners to gather their views on current practice and on development of future practice

The resources and findings from the project are aimed at groups and organisations working to support those with experience of mental health difficulties into education and learning. They are also aimed at managers in organisations who are working to create healthy workplaces.

Resources will include a self assessment checklist that learning organisations can use to identify what they are doing to enable declaration and to develop action plans. There will also be a guidance leaflet for staff and learners on how to support end enable declaration.

1. That involving all sections of the organisation is crucial to the development and implementation of policies and processes to aid and support declaration by learners and staff.
2. That working in partnership with other organisations, groups and key individuals will lead to a greater understanding of the barrier to declaration and a more coherent range of solutions.
3. That awareness raising with staff, learners and partners is effective in reducing stigma and discrimination and increasing understanding of thr needs of people who experience mental health difficulties.

• Reduction in stigma and discrimination
• Greater awareness of needs of staff and learners who experience mental health difficulties
• Increased levels of declaration, with staff and learners receiving appropriate support to achieve and reach potential
• Increased levels of retention and achievement and progression to other learning or employment