Leeds Conservatoire joined Music Teacher magazine’s Health and Wellbeing column as a new partner earlier this year. Following the first column from our dedicated occupational therapy team, Daniela Bonitz (Group HE Student Health and Wellbeing Manager) and Bethany Milner (Student Wellbeing Adviser - Access and Participation) discuss meeting students’ support needs in our second piece.
Pictured left to right: Hayley Garrod (Counsellor and Mental Health Adviser), Emma Whitehead (Specialist Student Mentor and Counsellor), Bethany Milner (Student Wellbeing Adviser - Access and Participation), Daniela Bonitz (Group HE Student Health and Wellbeing Manager), James MacCallum (Counsellor and Mental Health Adviser)
Across our Health and Wellbeing service, there is a strong overlap between students disclosing a condition, those exploring possible neurodivergence, and those seeking wider emotional and academic support. Despite having more male students overall, 60% of referrals into the Health and Wellbeing service come from female students, compared with 35% from male students and 5% from non-binary students.
Our response is rooted in collaborative, person centred support, shaped by ongoing dialogue between departments and a shared commitment to ensuring students feel supported both academically and personally.
This includes the following:
- Wellbeing support: helping students understand their experiences and developing practical strategies that work for them.
- Assessment and diagnostic pathways: supporting students exploring educational or medical assessment and navigating next steps.
- Emotional support: addressing anxiety, confidence, performance related stress, and self-esteem.
- Sensory and environmental approaches: considering how practice spaces, learning environments, and routines can better support individual needs.
- Executive functioning support: helping students manage organisation, time, workload, and independent learning.
Current or prospective students can contact the Health and Wellbeing team at healthandwellbeing@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk.
