A new report by Study Inn reveals worrying insight into the mental health of UK students, with data for 2022 showing that 36% of higher education students report having poorer mental health within six months of starting their first term. Providing fresh analysis on insights from UCAS, the Department for Education and the Office for National Statistics, the report shows that:
- 28% of students report experiencing worse mental health within two months of starting university, and 36% report poorer mental health after six months
- 49% of first year students don’t share their mental health concerns with their university or college
- Students are far more likely to feel lonely than the average adult, with 17% often or always lonely, compared to 7% of the general population
Study Inn, who have been nominated in the Best Student Wellbeing category at the Global Student Living Awards, have partnered with the UK’s leading student mental health charity Student Minds in an effort to raise more awareness of these issues and to help empower students and universities in improving mental health. Student Minds has a useful resources page that offers guidance on a range of areas, including studying abroad, exam stress, LGBTQ+ advice or simply coping with student life.
Therapist Meg Sloan commented on the report findings, saying “I think the key to get people talking and reaching out for support is to normalise struggling, with your mental health and with loneliness. So many students I speak to think they’re the only ones struggling, and that everyone seems to make friends and get on with things easily. That simply isn’t the case – people who get through without any challenges are the exception rather than the rule.”
You can find additional information, including university-specific mental health and wellbeing resources, in Study Inn’s full post: studyinn.com/news/student-mental-health–advice-and-guidance/603
Additional Resources:
- NHS – Mental Health Services
- Mind – Call 0300 123 3393
- Samaritans – Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: [email protected] for a reply within 24 hours
- Rethink – Call 0808 801 0525
- Sane – Call 0300 304 7000 (4:30pm – 10:30pm every evening)
- The Mix – Telephone: 0808 808 4994. Crisis text message service: Text THEMIX to 85258
- Childline (for under 19s) – Call 0800 1111 (24 hrs a day, 7 days a week)
- Shout – Text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 (24 hrs a day, 7 days a week)
- Support Line – Call 01708 765200 or email: [email protected]
- Papyrus UK – Call 0800 068 41 41. Email: [email protected] Text: 07786 209697
- C.A.L.M. (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – Call (outside London) 0800 58 58 58. Call (London): 0808 802 58 58. Webchat: www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/ (5pm – Midnight every day)
- Mood Swings – Call 0161 832 37 36. E-mail: [email protected]
