Student mental health problems soar over debt, exams and career fears

GROWING numbers of students are seeking help for mental health problems as the stress of exams and debts increase, new research has revealed.

A report by the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland calls for increased investment in support services for students after large numbers reported anxiety about their exams, future career prospects and money matters.

Their report - Silently Stressed - found that demand for university mental health services had increased over the last year and that some students were struggling to cope.

Some 75 per cent of student mental services reported increases from last year, with 40 per cent of university services reporting they could not meet demand. But the research suggested that many more may be needing help, but did not feel able to come forward.

A survey of over 1,800 students found that 80 per cent said that they felt the stigma around the issue of mental ill-health would act as a barrier in coming forward for help.

The report also found that few students would feel able to approach university or college staff about a mental health problem. Only 29 per cent said they would feel able to approach their academic mentor if they were experiencing mental health problems, 17.3 per cent to approach support services, 11.3 per cent to approach their student association, and 6.8 per cent to approach external organisations.

The survey found that 90.5 per cent of students felt stressed about exams and assessments, while 75.2 per cent were stressed by career prospects.

The NUS Scotland called for greater investment in student support services to tackle mental health stigma among students and to ensure sufficient support services are available.

They said more work was also required to ensure staff were able to spot mental health problems and deal with them effectively.

Jennifer Cadiz, Depute President of NUS Scotland, said: "These figures show that mental ill-health among students in Scotland is an increasing problem, affecting potentially hundreds of thousands of students, and that support services are struggling to cope."

She added: "Going to college or university is meant to be the time of your life, but what if it's not? Without the right support, stress and isolation can lead to far deeper problems like depression and even drop out.

"Far too many students in Scotland are living every day with mental health problems and without the support they need to get the most out of college or university.This is a personal tragedy for thousands and a huge waste of talent and government resources."

Isabella Goldie, of the Mental Health Foundation in Scotland, said: "Students are increasingly faced with the stress attached to the life transition of moving to university and all the pressures that studying can bring but also within this current economic climate, students are facing greater financial worries."