Students in the UK are experiencing “alarmingly high” levels of distress at university, a new report has found.
The Insight Network, a team of therapists and psychiatrists, conducted the poll. They said the results constitute “an urgent call to action”.
Almost 38,000 students took part in the study, which found UK students were suffering from excessive worry, substance misuse and thoughts of self-harm in significant numbers.
Around half (50.3%) the students who participated reported some thoughts of self-harm. Just under one in 10 (9.4%) admitted they thought about self-harm often or always.
Students reported high levels of anxiety and loneliness in the survey as well. Of those who took part, some 42% said they were often or always worried, and one-third said they often or always experienced feelings of isolation.
Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, Group Associate Medical Director at the Priory Group, listed financial pressures and living away from home as key causes of mental distress in students.
She said: “A stereotype exists of students drinking coffee all day and partying all night, but the truth is many students start university life knowing that their debt levels are rising by the day, and take on extra jobs to deal with this.
“Students worry their generation is likely to be less well off than their parents, so they feel more pressure to succeed than in the past. They also worry that even with a degree they won’t be able to find a job that will pay the rent, or enable them to ever access the property ladder.”
A number of reports in recent years have found millennials are likely to be worse off than their parents.
According to the Luxembourg Income Study Database, disposable income for people in their 20s and 30s is barely higher than previous generations’ were at the same age. When housing costs are taken into account, millennials are shown to be comparatively poorer.
Dr Audrey Tang, a chartered psychologist and lecturer at Brunel University, said raising awareness about mental illness at universities is not enough without providing services and resources to tackle it.
She said: “There will be variation as to the quality of services provided at different universities, but sadly awareness is not enough.
“Workshops, sessions, and courses to offer practical tools are so helpful. Then, it’s about giving students the courage to access them.”
The NHS offers self-help tips for stressed students.
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