Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Aug 25, 2024
Date Accepted: May 12, 2025
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Priorities and directions for future research on student mental health within UK Higher Education Institutions: A scoping review protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Scholars, practitioners, policy-makers, and governments are increasingly concerned about the declining mental health of students in the United Kingdom (UK). Given the diverse educational, socio-political contexts, and health and social care systems across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, it is crucial to synthesize existing knowledge on this topic to guide future research, policy, and intervention efforts.
Objective:
This protocol outlines the methodology for conducting a scoping review aimed at mapping the existing research on student mental health in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) within the UK. The goal is to identify current gaps in knowledge and to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving student mental health support.
Methods:
A systematic search will be conducted across multiple academic databases. The review will include a two-step screening process for eligibility and data charting. Studies will be included based on the following criteria: (a) population aged 16 years and older, (b) explicit focus on 'mental health', (c) data collected within the UK, (d) primary research studies, (e) published post-2003, and (f) available in English. Data will be extracted and analyzed to identify key themes and gaps in the current research landscape.
Results:
This section will provide an overview of the review’s progress. Currently, the study is in the data collection phase. The results will detail the number of studies included, key findings related to student mental health in UK HEIs, and identified research gaps.
Conclusions:
The findings from this scoping review will inform immediate actions to enhance student mental health services in UK HEIs and guide future research efforts. This review aims to strengthen the evidence base for stakeholders, including students, educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals, across the four nations of the UK. Clinical Trial: N/A
Citation
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Copyright
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