Presentations 4.2 – Building Local Networks of Student Services
Student Well-Being & Mental Health
Severine Deliessche, Deputy Director at Crous de Lille
Student Mental Health Council: coordinating stakeholders to better support students
In 2020, in response to the health crisis, the Crous de Lille, the University of Lille and the regional mental health centre jointly established the Student Mental Health Council to coordinate initiatives addressing students’ mental health needs. Students face specific risks, including separation from family and social networks, environmental risk factors such as lifestyle and substance use, precarious living conditions, emerging mental health conditions, difficulties accessing care, and the risk of suicide.
The Student Mental Health Council is a partnership built around three main objectives: coordinating stakeholders to support students, facilitating access to psychiatric care, and improving training for professionals. Two initiatives have also been launched: a mobile psychiatric and nursing team that reaches out to students and advises professionals, and a postvention protocol designed to provide support after suicidal incidents, reduce their impact on individuals, and limit the risk of copycat suicides.
As a result, professionals are better equipped and students receive improved support for mental health-related concerns.
Bart Sahuc, Student Services, UCLL University of Applied Sciences
The Leuven Model: Cooperation for a nice and safe student life in Leuven
Leuven is a vibrant city of 100,000 residents and 60,000 students. Three higher education institutions shape its academic landscape: KU Leuven, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg, and LUCA School of Arts. Around 60% of students live in student housing, scattered throughout the city. Some stay in converted family homes, others in larger residences. With only one true student district, most students live side by side with long-term residents in ordinary neighbourhoods. This unique mix brings energy and diversity, but it can also lead to occasional friction.
To ensure that Leuven remains a welcoming, enjoyable, and liveable city for everyone, strong cooperation is essential. The City of Leuven, the higher education institutions, the student umbrella organisation, and the local police work closely together to support positive coexistence. Through shared initiatives, clear communication, and proactive engagement, they aim to balance a lively student culture with the comfort and well-being of all residents. Leuven’s collaborative approach shows how a growing student city can embrace both dynamism and harmony.