The British Government has increasingly supported the study of media and communications, and it has been investing in projects that provide opportunities for undergraduate students in their final year.

In efforts to encourage students to be more creative whilst providing them with first-hand work experience and preparing students for employment before they graduate, the NHS called for students’ projects to be used in campaign to raise awareness in health issues.

Students from the University of Lincoln’s School of Media were invited to work with the NHS in a campaign to raise awareness of post-natal depression. The students researched and designed posters to increase the awareness of crucial issues pertaining to maternal mental health.

Colin Reiners, principal lecturer in the Lincoln School of Media and the project coordinator said: “The project has been a fantastic opportunity for all of the students involved.” Design students developed proposals for the Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), which were presented in the national Early Implementer Site (EIS) conference in London.

The student’s projects made the LCHS the Department of Health’s second wave EIS April last year, becoming part of the national programme to improve health visiting services. One of the designed posters by the students were selected by the Department of Health and presented to the parliamentary under-secretary of state for health services, Dr Daniel Poulter.

Elizabeth Hillman, health visiting development lead with LCHS, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the posters that the students have produced. They have proved themselves to be very creative, and have delivered eye-catching and interesting designs when responding to the brief of an extremely sensitive topic.”