26. Leonard Fagin Consultant Psychiatrist and Hon Senior Lecturer
Dear Mr Bowler and Ms Powrie,
I have been informed by my colleagues in the Counselling Service that LMU is planning further
cuts in the provision of counsellors, added to the cuts that have already taken place.
As you may know, I am still nominally attached to the service as a Consultant Psychiatrist,
although because of financial stringencies my services are rarely called for these days, not in my
view, because of a reduction in the mental health needs of students at the University. I also
represent the Royal College of Psychiatrists on student mental health matters at Universities UK
Mental Wellbeing in Higher Educational Institutions Working Group, overseeing the provision of
services and policies on mental health matters. I was shocked to hear that despite the size of the
student population at LMU, and my records whilst offering mental health assessments of the high
levels of pathology prevalent among our students that the University has decided to implement
cuts amounting to 43% reduction to the Counselling Service, translating into 1.5 FTE equivalents,
in what already is a depleted service. I am also working at the University of the Arts, with a much
smaller student population, that provides a Counselling Service that is protected and has suffered
no cuts, with a higher and adequate level of counsellors and Mental Health Advisors.
The recent Royal College Report (2011) indicates that students’ mental health problems are on the
rise, and that lack of adequate provision endangers their ability to complete their higher training at
a crucial time in their lives.
I have also been moved to write this to you because of my concern on the effect on morale on the
counsellors at LMU who I have great confidence in.
I will of course send this letter to the Royal College and to the UUK MWBHE for their information
and support. Whilst I can understand the need to for urgent measures to address the economic
difficulties that LMU is experiencing, I believe that the counselling services deserves prioritisation
and safeguarding for the good of its students and the University as a whole.
Many thanks for considering this uninvited letter.
Best Wishes
Dr Leonard Fagin
Dr. Leonard Fagin Méd (Arg), FRCPsych
Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Lecturer
University College London
London Metropolitan University and University of the Arts
Children and Young People’s Services, Hackney Social Services
Family Assessment Service, Anna Freud Centre
Second Opinion Appointed Doctor, Care Quality Commission
Lord Chancellor’s Medical Visitor, Office of the Public Guardian