By Lauren Canning and Megan Williams (Members of the LTU Wellbeing Society)
Currently, the mental health crisis amongst students is on the rise within the UK.
A few factors that are playing a role in the increase of this mental health crisis include the several pressures and expectations that accompany starting university, such as:
- Achieving academic goals
- Pressures to socialise
- Pressures to drink alcohol
The pandemic has also influenced the depletion of students’ mental wellbeing, with many students finding it harder to cope within the academic setting due to isolation and lack of social interaction amongst their peers. Furthermore, students are unaware of how to find adequate support.
- 33% of students often or always feel lonely. (Student Mental Health | Dealing With Student Stress & Anxiety at Uni – Fresh (thisisfresh.com)).
The pandemic has increased anxiety levels regarding future employment, as many places have recognised certain elements of their work can be done remotely.
- Seven in ten 18-24-year-olds feel anxious about employment and their ability to earn money in the near future, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Student mental health report 2020 | Randstad UK).
In a recent survey by YoungMinds, it was found that 67% of young people said they would prefer to access mental health without conferring with their GP, however nearly 47% of young people expressed their lack of knowledge on how to access this support elsewhere.
Below are some useful contact details, websites and apps.
Contact details/websites:
Anxiety UK – Support for those diagnosed with anxiety
- Helpline: 03444 775 774
- Text service: 07537 416 905
- Website: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
Samaritans – Support for those experiencing feelings of despair or depression
- Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
- Website: https://www.samaritans.org/
YoungMinds – Information on child and adolescent mental health
- Phone: Parent’s helpline – 0808 802 5544
- Young adults: Text YM to 85258
- Website: youngminds.org.uk
No Panic – Support for those affected by panic attacks and OCD
- General helpline: 0844 967 4848
- Youth Helpline: 0330 606 1174
- Website: nopanic.org.uk
Useful, free apps:
- Insight Timer – More than 100,000 free guided meditations, including music, mediations and stories.
- Headspace – Educates on meditation techniques to help you stress less and focus more.
- Student Health App – Reduce your worries, feel more confident and get the health information you need as a student.
- WorryTree – Notice, record and manage your worries using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques.
- Cove – create music to reflect emotions like joy, sadness, anger to help express how you feel.
LTU News 