The Students Problem Of Mental Illness In The UK

Posted on 25th July 2022

The Student’s Problem of Mental Illness in the UK

College students who will enter college for the first time undergo a transitional period. Studies have shown that around 25% of these newcomers will most likely experience mental health issues.

This vulnerability to psychological issues occurs due to various college-specific challenges. Other factors that contribute to this issue include being far from home, having new experiences, financial strains, and more. There is a need to educate and support them. They need to learn how to recognize stress. It’s an early and common indication of mental health issues.

Vulnerability of students

There are specific factors that make students more vulnerable to mental illness. First is their age. Many of the ones below 25 and approximately 75% of adults may have experienced some type of mental illness before they turned 25. Stress is another factor. Being a student can potentially be a very stressful experience. On its own, stress isn’t a mental health issue. But if not dealt with, it may lead to mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.

Then there is a lack of support. Being far from home for the first time or not seeing family and friends can contribute to mental problems. Without a solid support network, they might develop some type of mental illness. Before entering college, some may already have existing mental illnesses. It’s essential for them to continue with whatever treatment they’re undergoing. Otherwise, they should seek treatment to overcome their illness.

Ask Professional About Help With Education

In the UK, more and more students suffer from mental illness while trying to cope with their education. To protect their mental health, they need to find ways to overcome stress while studying. These days, there are many resources for them. Edu birdie can help students with writing tasks. With one thing out of the way, they can focus on their health more. Having more free time reduces the risk of feeling stressed, which then reduces the risk of suffering from mental health problems.

Anxiety and depression

Based on recent statistics, the mental state of college freshmen is very worrisome. Approximately 37% of first-year students in England at a specific university have shown symptoms of anxiety and depression.

This number is statistically higher compared to the general population of students aged 16-29, which is around 22%. The same survey showed that approximately 21% of first-year students had sought mental health services since 2020.

Almost 2,000 students participated in this survey. Since this is a small sample size, we should consider these results experimental. Despite this, the results are still significant. The head of the survey for COVID-19 insights, Tim Gibbins, stated that the pandemic has a clear effect on the mental health of students. He also stated the need to continuously monitor this issue.

Other common problems that cause health issues

Another survey conducted back in 2017 by an accommodation provider found that around 87% of first-year college students struggled to cope with the academic and social aspects of college life.

The main area of concern was the stress students felt while studying. Around 60% of students reported difficulty coping with their workload. Other concerns included independent living (22%), financial worries (36%), studying and working at the same time (37%), and isolation (44%).

Finding support

There are many areas of concern when it comes to the mental health of students in the UK. This is especially true for students entering college for the first time. The problem can be better managed if they have access to the right treatment and in a timely manner.

Hopefully, the results of the survey findings will serve both as a guide for students and a call to action for the community. It’s important for family members, friends, government agencies, and the university to work together. They need to provide what the students need to care for their mental health.

Conclusion

College life can be very challenging, especially for first-timers. They will leave their homes and cope with academic demands. They might face social changes and financial worries. All these things could make them feel overwhelmed. This has led to rapid growth in mental illnesses in students. Ironically, the increased awareness of these issues has contributed to the problem too. This shows a growing need to increase support to help students overcome or even prevent such issues.