Welcome to SMaRteN
SMaRteN was a national research network funded by UK Research and Innovation, led by King's College London, focusing on student mental health in higher education. The research network concluded its work in summer 2023.
Working with researchers and key stakeholders across the higher education sector, we improved the understanding of student mental health and had a significant impact on the sector.
Our most important collaborators were students themselves who, across our lifecycle, established our strategic priorities, contributed to our research, and ensured that the voice of students was being heard within student mental health and research.
This website exists as an overview of what, together, we and the SMaRteN community achieved. It shares our key learnings, but also shines a spotlight on follow-on projects and activities, to help continue to amplify student mental health as a priority.
Working with researchers and key stakeholders across the higher education sector, we improved the understanding of student mental health and had a significant impact on the sector.
Our most important collaborators were students themselves who, across our lifecycle, established our strategic priorities, contributed to our research, and ensured that the voice of students was being heard within student mental health and research.
This website exists as an overview of what, together, we and the SMaRteN community achieved. It shares our key learnings, but also shines a spotlight on follow-on projects and activities, to help continue to amplify student mental health as a priority.
About SMaRteN
Why?
SMaRteN was established as a response to increases in the levels of mental health distress within the UK population. Within our lifecycle the challenges facing students and the Higher Education sector were further compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, only heightening the need for more research into the needs and priorities of students across the UK.
Our research aimed to shift the focus of discussion away from growing demand for counselling and support services, to build a more holistic understanding of what institutional and social factors contribute to distress among the student population and how to respond to these. At the same time, we also trialed innovative, interdisciplinary interventions to generate evidence-based approaches to professional services, so that the right services are there for the students who need them when they need them..
How?
Our network engaged researchers with expertise in areas ranging from education to anthropology, from arts and culture to bio-informatics, from psychology to economics. Across 3 funding calls, we supported researchers at institutions and organisation across the UK and funded a total of 19 new projects. You can read more about all funded research activity on this page.
We took an interdisciplinary approach to supporting novel and emerging work, that examined both individual and institutional factors that influence student mental health. Fundamentally, however, co-creation with students was embedded within all of our research activity with researchers ensure students were active contributors at every stage of a project's lifecycle.
Our Focus
The network focused on understanding student mental health and whole institution approaches improving student mental health. To help refine this, the network addressed three questions:
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1. What is distinctive about the mental health and wellbeing experiences of students?
Our engagement activities, funded research and collaborative stakeholder events helped to underline that the mental health experiences of students are influenced by a complex blend of academic pressures, social dynamics, life transitions, and individual factors. Emphasising the need for holistic, intersectional approaches to student wellbeing. |
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2. What factors influence student mental health?
Based on the activities and research conducted by the SMaRteN network, several key factors were identified that influence student mental health - including academic pressures, transition to university, social isolation and lack of support. Importantly, these factors were isolated by working with students to understand their priorities and meant we could also understand the impact of external pressures such as climate concerns and the cost of living. |
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3. How can we enhance the mental wellbeing of students across a whole institution?
SMaRteN's work emphasised the importance of a tailored approach to supporting student mental health, but one which works in partnership with sector stakeholders, NHS services, and the whole university campus. Possible interventions for enhancing wellbeing included peer support programmes, accessible mental health services, and effective communication channels. |
You can find out more our findings and explore the ideas above in further detail by taking a look at our funded research page.
Student Engagement
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SMaRteN actively involved students in the conversation around student mental health. Through a range of engagement activities such as webinars, workshops, and online conferences, SMaRteN provided a platform for students to contribute their insights, learn from leading experts, and engage in critical dialogues on mental health issues.
The network also encouraged student involvement in research through student research fellowships and student research groups, where students gained hands-on experience in the field, working alongside experienced professionals. SMaRteN's dedication to student involvement ensured that the research conducted was not only academically rigorous but also sensitive and responsive to the real-life experiences and needs of the student population. |
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Who?
Our leadership team brought together a wide range of expertise and experience and we were grateful to receive the support of eminent researchers and student mental health leads like Professor Sir Simon Wessely, Professor Dame Til Wykes, Toby Litt, Dan Robotham, Dr Eleanor Dommett, Dr Alyson Dodd, Dr Emma Broglia and Jennifer Smith as part of our team.
Network Lead (PI)
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Dr Nicola Byrom
Nicola is a lecturer in Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences (others known as the IoPPN) at Kings College London (KCL). She is also the founding trustee of Student Minds, the student mental health charity. Nicola led the charity through its first 6 years in operation, before stepping back to a trustee role. Nicola has worked with the charity on a number of research projects, including work looking at the transition between school and university, the role and experience of friends in supporting students with mental health difficulties, the role and experience of academics in relation to student mental health, the experience of students graduating from university and, more recently, the experience of LGBTQ+ students. |
KCL Staff Team
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Laura Beswick
Network Coordinator (2018- 2021) |
Jo Ward
Network Coordinator (2018- 2023) |
Student Co-Creators
Of course, fundamental to our strategy design, priority setting, and engagement approach was a dedicated and passionate group of students. Across the years, we were guided by 3 cohorts of Student Leadership Team and were further supported by Student Media Teams, Student Peer Researchers, and Student Fellowship Interns, alongside further contributors to specific activities. You can read more about all of this here.
Get in touch
Whilst the SMaRteN project is no longer active, you can find our more about our past work and any subsequent spin out activities by emailing michael.1.priestley@kcl.ac.uk
Michael was one of our dedicated student collaborators who worked with us across numerous research and engagement activities and also helped to Co-Chair one of discussion groups.
Since SMaRteN, Michael has been working with Nicola on her new project U-Belong. This project was established to build on SMaRteN's key findings and to continue to shine a spotlight on student mental health. This project focuses more specifically of one of the key emerging themes from SMaRteN's research - Student loneliness and sense of 'belonging'.
Find out more about U-Belong on their website: here.
Since SMaRteN, Michael has been working with Nicola on her new project U-Belong. This project was established to build on SMaRteN's key findings and to continue to shine a spotlight on student mental health. This project focuses more specifically of one of the key emerging themes from SMaRteN's research - Student loneliness and sense of 'belonging'.
Find out more about U-Belong on their website: here.
