Colleges failing on mental health need

Less than two-thirds of further education colleges have special
services for people with a mental health problem.

A report by the National Institute for Mental Health in England and
the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education finds that
only 93 of 153 further education colleges and 36 of 53 local
education authorities said they had targeted provision for people
diagnosed with a mental health problem.

Providers tended to be less aware of the National Service Framework
for Mental Health than the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Just over 40 per cent of further education colleges and one-third
of local education authorities said they were aware of the
framework.

Most further education colleges and local education authorities
said learning services for adults diagnosed with a mental health
problem could be made more effective by closer partnership working
with other agencies, including social services, mental health
services and primary care trusts. 

– Report from www.nimhe.org.uk