Metrics pressure linked to staff seeking help, says think tank

Pressure to provide a good student experience and perform well in assessments such as the Research Excellence Framework has led to a sharp rise in the number of university staff using counselling services, according to a leading think tank.

Between 2009 and 2016, multiple universities saw the number of staff accessing counselling and occupational health services jump by 50 per cent or more, a report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) on 23 May shows.

One institution—the University of Kent—saw a rise of 424 per cent in the number of staff accessing occupational health services, while the University of Warwick saw referrals to counselling increase by 316 per cent over the same period. However, some institutions saw a decrease in referrals during the period.