International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia 2022
Student mental health is a growing concern everywhere. And no student should ever feel alone with their mental health.
A 2021 report by UCAS showed that the number of UK students reporting a mental health condition has risen by 450% in the last decade. Clearly, we need to take action to address the growing student mental health concerns.
University Mental Health Day, which this year falls on the 3rd of March, aims to gather the university community to make mental health a university-wide priority—and create ongoing change to the future of student mental health.
There are over two million students studying in UK universities. It’s a time of unique pressure—people may be living away from home for the first time, they may worry that their studies will define the rest of their lives, and they may find themselves relying on substances to deal with these pressures.
On top of this, we’re currently experiencing the after-effects of an unprecedented pandemic. Students had most of their social lives pulled from under them for months on end, and this has had some drastic impacts.
Whether you're a student or part of the university team, University Mental Health Day is a great way to show your support and strive for action on student mental health. The campaign has a range of helpful resources and you can find further information on the UMHD website. Here are some ways you can get involved for yourself:
If you're worried about your own, or someone else's mental health at university, know that you're not alone. There are various avenues of support available, which we've listed below.
University support - Each university will have different support services available. If you've been struggling, reach out and see what it is your university provides. Many universities provide counselling services free of charge. It might seem daunting to reach out and ask for help, but sometimes getting things off your chest can help you to reframe your perspective and work through your emotions.
Student Assistance Programmes - Many universities offer Health Assured's Student Assistance Programme to help support students through tough times. If you do have a Student Assistance Programme in place, it can be a great way to access instant support in times of need. At Health Assured we understand mental health and wellbeing doesn't have an off switch. That’s why our Student Assistance Programme offers a 24/7, 365 helpline offering in the moment emotional support, advice and guidance to students who might be feeling themselves spiral or just need someone to talk to.
Our helplines are completely confidential—our qualified counsellors and advisors understand the pressures of student life and are here to help anyone who needs it. Sometimes, simply talking through your issues with someone can be a great relief.
If you just want to find out a little bit more about how to boost your mental health then we've got a great range of tools on our My Healthy Advantage App that will help you improve your wellbeing. We've also got plenty of helpful articles on university life, including the basics of money management: a student guide, a student guide to physical wellbeing and student support for disabilities & mental health problems.
Student Minds - Student Minds is a UK student mental health charity that offers a range of information on looking after your mental health at university. They run Student Space which has helpful tailored resources and a range of support options available if you need to talk to someone.