University students seeking mental health support increases

The number of university students seeking mental health support has increased by more than 50% in 5 years a BBC report suggests. Based on 82 UK universities, the report says that budgets for university mental health services have increased by 43%. However, the National Union of Students said young people were under increasing pressure to perform.

Ryan moved into his new flat and was excited for his first year of university. On the first day, one of the girls sat everyone down. She told them that she had problems with her mental health and was a self-harmer. One night he heard someone shouting for help. His flat mate had attempted suicide. Distressed, he quickly called an ambulance and later found a suicide note left in the kitchen.

The girl, who has since recovered, is among the one in fifteen people who have made a suicide attempt at some point in their life. Research by Universities UK said that in 2017, 49,265 undergraduate students disclosed a mental health condition to their university. 78,100 students sought mental health support from their institution in the same year. The Office for National Statistics said that the overall rate of suicide among students has risen, with 95 university students taking their own lives from the 12 months to July 2017.

Ryan received counselling from his university after the incident. He said “there were a couple of instances where she self-harmed in the flat. We were living with each other, so we were her first port of call.” His flat mate spent four nights in hospital and later moved out. According to the mental health organisation, the UK has the highest self-harm rate of any country in Europe. “She moved out and it’s hard because I know she’s not getting support she needs and as a flat we supported her as best as we could. However, it was very stressful always worrying about her and wondering when the next incident would be.”

Earlier this year a Universities UK report suggested some students risked "slipping through the gaps" due to a lack of co-ordination between the NHS and universities. Ryan says: “This girl was almost a stranger and we were caring for her. I felt let down by the uni as we hadn’t been given support before, even though they knew she had mental health problems.” The University helped the flat of five through the aftermath. “I felt like they responded well after, checking in on us all and giving us counselling sessions.” The student suicide rate recorded across England and Wales in 2017 was 4.7 deaths per 100,000 students. Ryan says: “There needs to be more of an education for students. I was put in a flat with a boy with Asperger’s and a girl with bipolar, and I wasn’t given any education about what to do in situations, or even taught about the conditions. This would help them as they would have a better support system around them.”

With 50 per cent more students trying to get support for mental health related issues, universities are under increasing pressure to provide this help. Gabriella Tarantonio, a first-year student at Nottingham Trent University has suffered with anxiety for 3 years as well as struggling with depression for a year and a half. “Some months are better than others, but it’s always been an underlying problem.” Along with 49,265 other undergraduate students, Gabriella declared her mental health problems to the university. “Uni in general I think is hard for anyone, being put into a weird environment and having to live like it with no comforts is strange. However, I feel that coming to uni has enhanced everything for me and it is hard for it [anxiety] to not become a problem.” Gabriella found help at the doctors at home and was on medication for a period of time. “I’ve had therapy and know how to deal with anxiety but sometimes it’s not enough. I didn’t have it too often at home but ever since moving it’s become something I deal with every day.”

Research suggests that as many as 1 in 6 young people will experience an anxiety condition at some point in their lives. “I would say most people I know have suffered with a mental issue,” says Gabriella. According to the treasury in the Autumn 2018 budget, at least £2 billion of the NHS extra funding will now be allocated for new and vital improvements in mental health services. Gabriella believes that help and education into mental health issues is needed from an earlier point in life. “I think that the system needs to induce help from a younger age. The problem is becoming too big to ignore and if I would have known how to deal with it when I was younger, I don’t think I would have had to go through what I have too now. I am very open about my mental state because I don’t think it is something I need to hide. I want to help people realise that everyone has a bad day and social media shows a fake world.” Universities UK say that 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24. Surveys suggest the number of students dropping out of university with mental health problems has more than trebled in recent years.

Anxiety UK state that many anxiety disorders begin during childhood and adolescence, and the average time a person waits to seek help is over 10 years. Emily Smith, a second-year student at Birmingham City University had difficultly settling in first year and anxiety made her nervous for different things. “In first year me and my flat didn't get on well. It was pretty lonely so it's just about keeping busy and making the effort to meet up with people.” Emily says it helps by getting involved in different things and making friends. An international study by World Health Organisation initiative claim that one in three first-year university students report symptoms of a mental health disorder. “I feel better now, [second-year] as I'm more used to the routine of it and know people better.” Research by the Children’s commissioner of England states that 75% of mental health problems in adults have their roots in childhood. To help mental health issues among students Emily says, “there needs to be more awareness of the help available and how you can access it as well as organisations out there external to the uni. There’s a spectrum when it comes to mental health. You don't have to be severely struggling to be having issues.”

According to Unite Students’ Insight report 2016, one in ten students are not satisfied with their life. Andy Cope, a happiness expert says that the answer to how we help young people struggling with mental health issues is by giving them lessons on wellbeing. He says we need to, “equip them with the knowledge and skills to be in charge of their own wellbeing”. While some research suggest that universities need to do more to help those suffering, others argue that it should be taught in schools to combat issues and advise children at younger ages.

Some names have been changed and stories have been edited for readability and to preserve anonymity.