A major study of student mental health was launched this month which showed three quarters of university students surveyed in Scotland had low wellbeing, according to the research published by Mental Health Foundation.
The Thriving Learners study also found that more than one-third of university students surveyed (36%) reported moderately severe or severe symptoms of depression. Furthermore, nearly half of respondents (45%) reported that they had experienced a serious psychological issue that they felt needed professional help.
These findings and others shared within the 162-page report have prompted a series of recommendations including calls for student wellbeing to become a measure of success for all universities in Scotland; increased Scottish Government funding for focused wellbeing support; and all universities to undertake further research and training to better understand the impact of trauma on student mental health and wellbeing.
Over 15,000 students from all 19 universities in Scotland participated in the Thriving Learners study. Surveys and qualitative research were undertaken between January and April 2021, during the second national COVID-19 lockdown, to better understand the current state of student mental health, what support is available, what works, and what is still needed.
Lee Knifton is a Management Science academic who carried out the ethics for the project and was also involved through his role at Mental Health Foundation in overseeing the study.
A fourth year Business Honours Student Olivia Ford was on the study advisory group for the last year and presented at the launch event as part of a high level panel. Olivia also set up a student peer support project at Strathclyde, Reach Out.
Olivia explained, “I got involved with Thriving Learners through founding and running Reach Out, a mental health peer support group at the university and for having a passion for mental health. I was asked to join the Learner Advisory board and contribute my thoughts and experiences to the study.
“I am very grateful to have played a part in such a large and important study. I thought it was brilliant that they involved students and took our comments on board. I believe it’s hugely important that students have a say in mental health support at university and I hope this sets the example for future student contributions.
“The results of the study were very sad to hear but I cannot say I am too surprised. I am pleased that we finally have some evidence of the struggles that students have been voicing for years. I hope that universities, the NHS, and government take both the findings and recommendations seriously and start implementing action right away. It is also imperative that they all work together, take accountability, and find solutions to the issues raised, instead of avoiding the work and passing the buck. I also hope that this study is the start of future work looking at student and mental health and how best to support them.“
The project was led by MHF in partnership with Universities Scotland and funded by The Robertson Trust.
To read the full report, please click here