Biopsychosocial Model of Student Mental Health at the University of Liverpool: The Multi-Disciplinary Approach

The dominant tendency in the UK has been to conceptualise mental health and mental health related issues through lens of the biomedical science, frequently denying the significance of psychological factors, emphasising pharmacological treatment, and targeting presumed biological abnormalities. The inefficiency of such approach resulted in mental health issues becoming the most common issue and the second largest burden of disease on public healthcare. The need for more effective intervention and prevention systems specifically targeting the young adults, the age group critical for mental disorders manifestation, has become evident. This is an overview of the successful implementation of the multi-disciplinary approach to student mental health, introduced at the University of Liverpool. Providing an outlook of the Student Services, with the functional divisions into Mental Health, Wellbeing and Counselling teams, it explores the underlying biopsychosocial model with regards to psychological and emotional health, its application towards preventive measures and intervention practices within the higher educational settings. The multi-disciplinary approach allowed for a comprehensive mental healthcare system, as well as seamless integration with the National Health Services, which subsequently resulted in higher quality and consistency of case management. Catering to the psychological and social aspects of students’ wellbeing has shown to increase students’ self-awareness, coping skills and effectiveness in dealing with life events. With the pioneering experience of the University of Liverpool, the biopsychosocial model of student wellbeing is growing in popularity in the UK and is being implemented within other academic institutions in the country. In conclusion, the biopsychosocial theory provides ground for further research and is viable for consideration at the universities nationwide. Diversified student mental health and wellbeing services give an opportunity to effectively address public mental healthcare concerns, allowing for definitive, individually tailored, yet standardised and homogeneous public healthcare action. With a third of the population choosing to pursue a higher education at the age of 18-25, this is an unprecedented opportunity to provide support to young adults, undergoing significant biopsychosocial changes at a critical period, which will define their future mental health profile and will, consequently, define the mental health profile of the nation.