Harsh lessons in distress - students tell of mental health struggles at university

“This is such an important issue,” says one student in response to a social media post about mental health at university. “It needs to be talked about more and more.”

Her time in higher education has not been easy, it has been a journey of mental health struggles including depression and anxiety – and she is not alone.

Research paints a picture of a rocketing number of university students trying to access support services, drop outs due to mental health issues and increasing levels of mental distress and low wellbeing.

“The fact is that most mental health conditions do actually manifest around the typical university entry age,” says Dr Lisa Webster of Leeds Trinity University, a researcher in student mental health.

The conditions can be exacerbated by stresses experienced by students. Many find themselves living independently for the first time, forced to manage a budget and build new social networks from scratch. Some have to juggle their academic work with a part-time job and