Megan Geall
Mental health is serious— we must take mental health as seriously as a physical or visible illness, especially when it comes to our student population. Living on your own; managing your own financial situation; moving to a new area; balancing studies, work and life; planning for the future—these are the realities of student life that many face for the first time as they start university. It is unsurprising that many students struggle and it is time to break the stigma and talk openly about mental health experiences for UK students.
More broadly, the number of people diagnosed with mental health conditions are increasing worldwide with a 13% rise in mental health and substance-use disorders between 2007-2017.While these statistics shockingly demonstrate an encroaching mental health crisis, it is also encouraging to see an increased awareness and more conversation around mental health. Charities such as the Mental Health Foundation and Mind have completed amazing work with initiatives such as Mental Health Awareness Week to encourage openness and remove the stigma around mental struggles.
Student Mental Health: The Statistics
However, the reality is this: the 2021 Cibyl Student Mental Health Study found that 35% of all students experience a challenge to their mental health. It also showed that university increases the likelihood of developing mental health problems, with 39% of all students saying their mental health has declined since starting university. Finally, although universities make support services available and students are aware of this, 17% of students choose to speak to no one about their mental health.
This series aims to share student experiences of mental health at university, both positive and negative, to expose the challenges, strengths or inconsistencies of the support services available to the UK’s 2.66 million student population.
My Story
My story is definitely not the most traumatic but this does not change its validity: all mental health struggles are real. I am not afraid to share my struggles because I know many people out there have felt or are feeling the same way. The more we talk openly, the easier it is to ask for support or help.
I am now 22 years old and over the last few years I have had various struggles, some diagnosed and some undiagnosed, including mild post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and, most recently (post-graduation), disordered eating/anorexia.
I was always known as an “anxious” person growing up; quite shy and reserved, especially around new people with my first experience of a panic attack in year nine.
While I struggled with anxiety all throughout high school and sixth form, I never had professional support until university. My first year at university was an absolute dream- my family (and myself) fully expected me to struggle at university with speaking to so many new people in a completely new city, but surprisingly, I thrived! I put myself out there by joining societies and the first year flew by in a blur of drunk dancing and laughing with my new mates.
My Mental Health Declined in Second Year
Starting second year was a different story. Already going through a rough mental health patch in terms of increased anxiety and symptoms of depression, I reached Halloween when my boyfriend and our group of friends got beaten up outside of a nightclub. For me this was the start of an extreme downward spiral. I irrationally blamed myself for what happened and my anxiety shot through the roof: I couldn’t be left on my own for long, I barely left the house, I had panic attacks most days and weeks flew by in a muted blur.
“My anxiety was so bad that I was missing seminars and lectures”
I presented clear symptoms of depression that concerned those around me and was encouraged multiple times to seek both emergency and long-term help but I was reluctant to talk to anyone— I felt like my struggles weren’t important and refused to believe that I needed professional help.
In January 2020, my anxiety was so bad that I was missing seminars and lectures due to feeling too claustrophobic at the idea of sitting in a class for an hour or more. Not only was I experiencing mental symptoms (intrusive thoughts, constant worrying etc.), but also physical symptoms (tight chest, shortness of breath, tummy problems etc.).
University Support Services Vs. NHS Support
At this point I finally asked for professional help through my university: the University of Kent. My experiences with university support services can only be described as amazing; the university runs a daily emergency support session where you can turn up without an appointment (between certain hours) and be seen by an emergency councillor.
I attended two of these sessions where I could talk through the immediate issues I was having and the councillors were always very calming and supportive, encouraging an open and honest conversation that made me feel like my struggles were important and valid. They offered various different support services for me to look into and forwarded my struggles onto the NHS and the Medical Centre on campus.
While the communication with the NHS services was quick and efficient–I was given a place on a CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) group course within two weeks—I was left quite unsatisfied by the support offered. As it was a group course, the therapy wasn’t personal to my own specific thoughts and feelings, often covering symptoms such as sleeping troubles that I had never experienced.
“I was offered no further support from the NHS”
Generally, I could apply some of the techniques and ideas to my anxiety but overall the course had little impact on my mental health journey. After completing the course, I was offered no further support from the NHS or any communication to check in on how I was coping which left me still struggling and heading into the first COVID-19 lockdown as well as my final year of university. This may be why students are turning to other services such as non-advisory listening services instead (read more here).
Mitigation Strategies in University
While I am incredibly grateful for the support I did receive from the NHS, as I’m fully aware that some patients do not receive the support I got, it was the university support services that really made the difference and ensured I could complete my undergraduate studies to the best of my abilities. The School of English communicated with me incredibly efficiently, scheduling meetings with me to discuss my mental health and see what support they could offer.
Within weeks of my first meeting, I had a full ILP (inclusive learning plan) set up that my academic advisor, lecturers and seminar leaders had access to. This plan covered the basic details of my struggles, without exposing too many details that would make me feel uncomfortable, as well as the necessary actions that may need to be taken if I was suffering through a bad period.
Post-Graduation Struggles
“I still struggle with anxiety but openly seeking help was the best thing I ever did”
After graduating, my general anxiety improved but I ended up developing an eating disorder. This is a new mental health struggle that is separate from the anxiety I struggled with at university however I know that many university students suffer with eating disorders whether that is through underrating or stress-related binge-eating. My experience with NHS services has unfortunately been worse with this mental health condition. It took a long time for my concerns and struggles to be listened to and taken seriously, with one doctor even laughing at one of my comments in a telephone interview.
While they provided me with medication to help me cope with any general anxiety, the eating disorder support has been extremely minimal. I have been on the waiting list for an appointment for seven months. Personally, I think this shows just how underfunded the NHS really is as well as the extent of the UK’s mental health and eating disorder crisis. I am incredibly lucky that my family is fortunate enough to have access to private health care as otherwise I’m not sure what state my life would be in now.
I still struggle with anxiety but openly seeking help was the best thing I ever did as it made me feel like I wasn’t alone and that anxiety was something that I could cope with rather than being this scary, irrational cloud hovering over me.
I am very reflective on my privilege as a white, heterosexual, cis-gendered female. At every battle I’ve faced I’ve had friends, family, my boyfriend or even strangers on Instagram listen to how I’m feeling; understand my struggles; and support me by giving any help they can. I’ve had access to mental health services, both emergency and long term, as well as GP appointments and privately-funded personal therapy.
I am very aware of how fortunate I am as a white woman as having access to private health care truly is an extreme luxury. In the UK, 58% of people receiving benefits said their mental health was poor and people from radicalised communities are at higher risk of developing a mental health problem but are less likely to get support. The Government and University Boards need to address issues with mental health services before it is too late.
Mental health conversations are not all ‘doom and gloom’ and there is support and understanding out there. We need to talk about mental health as seriously and as openly as our physical health- how often do you check on a friend if you know they have a cold or a stomach bug? By openly discussing young people’s mental health, particularly student mental health, we can place pressure on Universities, NHS Directors and the Government to tackle the UK’s mental health stigma and remove the stigma of battling mental illnesses.
Featured image courtesy of Megan Geall. No changes were made to this image.
Megan Geall
Megan is a 23-year-old recent English and American Literature graduate and aspiring journalist. Her interests include food, fitness, lifestyle writing and dance!