UMHAN was established in 2003 as an information-sharing network for mental health specialists working in Higher Education. UMHAN enabled the continuation of a series of important firsts in Higher Education, including the emphasis on practical and whole-institution approaches to mental health and illness, the development of mental health-specific services in Higher Education, facilitating awareness-raising of mental health and illness, and increasing the appropriate uptake of allowances for students with mental health difficulties. Importantly, UMHAN members connected the work being undertaken by specialists in Higher Education with national initiatives regarding social exclusion, health promotion, place- and context-based provision for people with mental health difficulties, and tackling mental health inequalities for students with mental health difficulties.   UMHAN was founded by professionals in mental health work and has been instrumental in maintaining and improving the professional development and standards of mental health specialists and services in Higher Education. While UMHAN has broadened its membership to include other types of mental health-specialist roles and has been involved in consultations and initiatives undertaken by other organisations, its core aims have remained remarkably persistent over the years; these reflect the needs of specialists working in Higher Education, the needs of people with mental health difficulties undertaking education, and the benefits of positive action in education and mental health to students, education and society at large.