The Next Step to Student Health and Wellbeing

The Next Step to health

For students struggling with a stigmatised issue like their mental or sexual health, it can be difficult to take the next step from recognising the problem. The ReachOut Next Step site can help students step from identifying a problem, to taking action.

The ReachOut Next Step site is a partnership between UoM Melbourne Medical School, Young and Well CRC, and Reach Out. The project gives Medical students the opportunity to list their concerns, prioritise those concerns, and then access online, face-to-face, telephone or app based support services. The program is easy to use and access, with a ‘Next Step’ tab on the login page of MD Connect. Once into the page, students can click on statements that are true for them (eg. “I can’t trust my partner”, “I often feel empty or numb”, and “I’m worried about coming out”.), they are then asked to choose the most pressing of these issues, then rate the subjective severity of this issue. Finally, students are provided with referral options, including telephone support including Lifeline, and beyondblue, Face to Face services, including CAPS, Health and Wellbeing Practitioners, and their GP, as well as online chat sites and apps.

The program aims to provide students with a non-confronting, anonymous ‘next step’ after identifying a problem in their life, and encouraging them to seek professional help.

Next Step compliments the Health and Wellbeing services on offer by MMS and the University more broadly, and importantly sends a clear message to students that their mental health is important to us.

If you have any questions about the project, you can contact Lachlan Slade (Health and Wellbeing Practitioner – Rural) on 5823 4507 or 0428633952, or e-mail lachlan.slade@unimelb.edu.au