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Constructing a Crisis: Mental Health, Higher Education and Policy Entrepreneurs
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Chloe Wakeham,
Kenneth McLaughlin,
Kathryn Ecclestone
Sociological Research Online, Volume: 29, Issue: 2, Pages: 351 - 369
Swansea University Authors:
Ashley Frawley , Chloe Wakeham, Kathryn Ecclestone
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Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/13607804231215943
Abstract
In 2018, the UK Conservative government issued a firm directive, emphasizing the significance of prioritizing 'positive mental health' within universities. This directive emerged in response to mounting concerns expressed by various stakeholders, including mental health organizations, stud...
| Published in: | Sociological Research Online |
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| ISSN: | 1360-7804 1360-7804 |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications
2024
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64755 |
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| Abstract: |
In 2018, the UK Conservative government issued a firm directive, emphasizing the significance of prioritizing 'positive mental health' within universities. This directive emerged in response to mounting concerns expressed by various stakeholders, including mental health organizations, student groups, and higher education (HE) administrators. These stakeholders argued that there was a growing crisis concerning the mental well-being of students in the UK.We conducted a qualitative media analysis (QMA) to examine the public discourse surrounding student mental health as a societal concern. This analysis involved scrutinizing newspapers and policy documents produced in the UK between 2010 and 2019. We approached this analysis using a contextual constructionist method and Kingdon's policy streams framework. Our study revealed expansive interpretations of mental health issues, the presence of certain assumptions that influenced the collection of evidence, 'professional exes' acting as policy entrepreneurs, and solutions designed to distribute risk across educational institutions. In conclusion, our findings suggest a shift away from independent subjectivity toward more externally influenced constructions of mental health in higher education.This research adds valuable insights to the field of sociology by enhancing our understanding of contemporary subjectivity and social policy surrounding mental health in HE. |
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| Keywords: |
Higher education, mental health, social problems, therapeutic cultures, therapy culture |
| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Funders: |
British Academy SRG1920\101300 |
| Issue: |
2 |
| Start Page: |
351 |
| End Page: |
369 |