University counselling reduced under scheme

Counselling sessions per student have been cut under a new scheme to manage demand  at the University of Otago’s Student Health.

The  scheme, trialled in semester one and now adopted, involves a cap of six counselling sessions, a longer initial assessment, and more referrals to external providers.

An evaluation released to the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act shows the average number of sessions per student was 2.86 in semester one. During the same period last year, it was  4.15.

Students referred to external providers increased from 28 to 42, while those referred from assessment to counselling reduced from 66 to 47.

The  semester one evaluation report says counsellors are "generally affirmative" about the six-session cap.

"The establishment of a treatment ceiling has allowed the counsellor to manage student expectation and work in a more deliberately focused manner."

For some students, more sessions were granted, depending on clinical need.

"The first semester counselling pilot has significantly increased availability of counselling to students on Dunedin campus through increased assessment capacity and a more time-focused approach to counselling interaction.

"There has been a significant increase in referral to treatment partners, including community mental health teams and private providers, either at assessment or following a course of counselling."

In an email,  Student Health Services director Dr Kim Ma’ia’i said the pilot had been "workable" and would continue.

"On the basis of the first semester experience, and following advice from the counselling clinical lead, the director of student services and I discussed and agreed to implement the changes as standardised procedure, subject to normal ongoing monitoring and review."

When the ODT reported on the scheme in April, a former staff member and the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust spoke against it, saying it would reduce support for students.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz