See Me Empower Change pilot
What is it?
Over the past two years, See Me and Think Positive have worked in partnership to adapt See Me See Change for colleges and universities, supporting a whole‑institution approach to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination.
Reducing stigma associated with mental health is a common priority for colleges and universities across Scotland and central to their strategies and Student Mental Health Agreements (SMHAs).
Following focus group discussions with institutions and lived experience volunteers, a pilot was created to trial with engaged colleges and universities titled “See Me, Empower Change”.
Reducing stigma remains a sector priority, yet evidence from research and student/staff feedback shows it continues to limit disclosure, help‑seeking and access to support across college and university settings.
What is next for the pilot?
The pilot is developing two staff upskilling interventions focused on:
- Building confidence in having supportive mental health conversations
- Empower staff to challenge mental health stigma when it occurs
- Supporting key roles to lead whole‑systems anti‑stigma work
To ensure the resource reflects the diversity of the sector, See Me have been working closely with colleges and universities to inform changes to the pilot content and identify priorities shaping the final resource.
See Me have now tested the draft materials with four colleges and universities with another booked in over the coming months. They are currently gathering feedback to support finalisation of self directed materials. The Mental Health Foundation continues to support evaluation of this project.
