Sofia Brooke
University is often promised as an exciting experience. And whilst that is a reality for many, 30 per cent of students surveyed by Student Minds said their mental health has gotten worse since starting university.
Additionally, over half of the students said they have a current mental health issue, and 1 in 4 would not know where to go for support.
What are the causes of poor student well-being, and how can University Mental Health Day make a difference?
STRESS AND COST OF LIVING
Student Minds, a UK mental health charity, partnered with Afterline to survey students in November 2022.
Their research has uncovered the most common causes of stress among students. This includes performing well academically, managing time and juggling study alongside paid employment.
A open degree student told Empoword: “It has been near impossible to juggle life and uni at the same time. Trying to manage everything has had a huge impact on my mental health.”
An overwhelming 83 per cent of students reported they were either ‘very’ or ‘quite’ concerned about the cost of living. Many students have taken on employment to cope with rising costs.
A PhD student told Empoword how doing both has affected them: “University stress along with working full time has been draining me mentally.”
WHAT IS UNIVERSITY MENTAL HEALTH DAY?
Student Minds and the University Mental Health Advisors Network (UMHAN) share a vision where “no student is held back by their mental health.”
One way these two organisations want to open conversations about this topic is through University Mental Health Day, which falls on the 13th March. The organisations aim to make mental health a “university-wide priority.”
There are many ways to get involved. Universities and Student Unions across the UK will host various activities and fundraisers on campus.
You can also join the movement on the day by taking part in the ’10 minutes for you challenge’ and using #UniMentalHealthDay to share your experiences online.
To take part in the challenge with Empoword, take a walk and find somewhere new to write. Whether it’s a journal entry or an article you care about but never get around to, just let the words flow!
Between studying and writing articles, it’s easy for journalists to forget to take time to write for themselves.
If you would like to organise an event, there are resources to give you ideas on what to do.
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY
Although understanding of where to go for support has increased, only 26 per cent of students surveyed had mentioned their problems to a university service.
A masters student’s advice for Empoword readers is to “reach out for help – no matter how small you think it is, tell someone, anyone. A problem shared is a problem halved. ”
There are ongoing debates about the extent to which universities have a duty of care over students.
However, charities like Student Minds continue to work with higher education institutions to make student mental health a priority. They also “empower students to build their own mental health toolkit to support themselves and their peers.”
Regardless of where students get support, it is important to talk to someone. Therefore, awareness days like Uni Mental Health Day are a great time to learn about what support is out there for you.
Support is available if you or a friend are affected by issues raised in this article:
Student Space offers one-to-one support for whatever challenge you’re facing. Whether it’s your mental health, your studies, money, housing or relationships. They also signpost to support services tailored to specific student groups.
CALM run a helpline for anyone affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts. It’s free, anonymous and open from 5pm to midnight every day.
Read Next:
-
THE REALITY OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
-
NAVIGATING STRESS IN YOUR FINAL YEAR AT UNIVERSITY
-
ANXIETY: UNIVERSITY, GPS AND KNOWING WHEN TO REACH OUT
Featured image courtesy of Ron Lach via Pexels. No changes made to this image. License found here.
