Mental health and wellbeing column: student services in the round

It's been shown that mental health difficulties can be more prevalent among our creative population. Striving for perfection, as performers often do, can mean mental health takes more of a knock when high expectations aren't achieved. At Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) we believe that during a student's time with us, mental health and wellbeing is one of the most important aspects.

Also, crucially, the onset of mental health conditions typically occurs between the ages of 18 and 24 and can be exacerbated by the transition from home to university and adjusting to life as an independent adult. Data from our work with universities in the southeast of Wales revealed that, compared to these, RWCMD proportionally has the largest number of students needing mental health support, even though it has the smallest student population. It's clear therefore that if we want to be truly inclusive, we have a responsibility to take student mental health very seriously.