In a UK sector-first, The University of Birmingham has launched a peer-led ‘recovery flat’ to help students tackle addictions.
It’s a place on campus where students with different addictions can live together in an alcohol and drug-free zone. And it’s right in the heart of the student of village. Rather than choosing a location away from the main campus, it allows them to still feel a part of the university experience, while still having that safe and stable place to retreat to when they need it.
Giving students the tools to recover and thrive
Luke Trainor, the programme manager and a recovering heroin addict himself, says the support system goes beyond recovery. It sets them up for life: “They’ve been able to finish their degrees, they’ve been able to move into the careers they really wanted to, and they’ve got solid social structures around them”.
It also allows them to become part of a community of people dealing with similar issues, which significantly reduces those feelings of isolation and shame. And the chances of relapsing.
Part of a wider programme to help them feel ‘Better Than Well’
The recovery flat is just one part of a wider programme at the university called ‘Better Than Well’ (BTW). Dr Ed Day, a clinical reader in addiction psychiatry, founded the programme in 2021, after his extensive research into effective intervention treatments.
It’s an example of a Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), which are common initiatives on American campuses, but BTW is the first of its kind here in the UK. The programme is built around promoting positive identity development, and giving people healthy coping skills and a sense of purpose.
It includes supporting students with the academic side of things, like the admissions process, early orientation, and individual study plans. And all those other activities and habits that help them on their road to recovery – peer mentor training, mindfulness classes, sober social events and much more.
Spreading awareness and normalising addiction
BTW holds weekly open sessions that celebrate the stories of people going through the programme – not only can it be a great self-esteem boost for participants, but it also spreads awareness about the programme. And normalises addictions for other students who might be struggling in silence on their own.
50 participants are currently going through the programme, but Dr Day thinks there could be as many as 1,800 students at the university struggling with some sort of addiction.
Plans are underway to expand and improve
As it stands, the recovery flat is currently male only. But the university plans to create a second flat for female students next year.
They’ve also set up a programme of evaluation. It will allow the BTW team to finetune the programme, and set out a blueprint for other universities to follow their lead. Go find out more about the programme on their website.
Sources
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65055981
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/mental-health/better-than-well.aspx
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