Solihull College & University Centre is proud to announce an innovative initiative aimed at providing comprehensive support for student well-being.
In collaboration between the College’s Mental Health Lead and the Head of Higher Education & Research, the College has launched Spectrum Life, a 24/7 mental health and well-being support service now available to all students.
Spectrum Life offers students access to a free helpline, an intuitive web portal, and a user-friendly app, ensuring that help is always just a click or call away. This service is designed to address a wide range of challenges, from depression, anxiety, and stress, to bereavement, addictions, relationship issues, and work-life balance.
A standout feature of the Spectrum Life service is its personalised approach. Every student who reaches out will be assigned a dedicated, qualified Case Manager. These professionals will work closely with students to uncover the root causes of their challenges, provide tailored advice, and connect them to additional support services if required. By offering a single point of contact, the service ensures continuity and a consistent level of care from start to finish.
Through the Spectrum Life Wellbeing Platform and App students can also access hours of wellbeing content, such as podcasts, recipes, and self-guided meditation to help improve fitness, nutrition, and mental health.
Mental Health Lead, Fathima Ashraff-Ali, emphasised the importance of this initiative: “We recognise that mental health challenges can significantly impact a student’s academic journey and personal life. By introducing Spectrum Life, we aim to create a robust safety net for our students, ensuring they always have someone to turn to, day or night. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone in our college community.”
Head of HE & Research, Claudine Barnes, highlighted the broader significance of this service: “We believe that by prioritising student well-being, we can empower them to succeed academically and personally. The support we had been offering – although excellent – was during working hours and term time only, which we felt might be restrictive for our HE students, in particular, who are busy juggling working lives and families alongside studying. With the 24/7 support that Spectrum Life offers, this now aligns perfectly with our mission to support students holistically, helping them overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. We are also really excited to have won a research grant from Mixed Economy Group (MEG) to look at the impact of this round-the-clock support.”
