The University Dilemma: Brilliant Time versus Mental Health Risks
January 22, 2024
Student life is often portrayed as one big party - a time when you have absolutely no responsibilities and is commonly dubbed ‘the best three years of your life’ by nostalgic graduates of all ages. However, the current reality for many students is that the university experience is challenging and stressful.
A recent finding suggests that university students are more likely to suffer from depression and/or anxiety than non-students in the same age group, and the proportion of students reporting a mental health problem has more than doubled between 2017 (6%) and 2023 (16%). Additionally, certain demographic groups are more vulnerable to mental health problems at university, including women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
It is important not to overlook the fact that there is also a huge proportion of students who think they’re suffering from a mental health problem, even if they don’t yet have a diagnosis: 57% of students who responded to a 2022 survey by the Office for Students reported themselves to have a mental illness.
Simply the fact that many students consider themselves to be struggling to maintain their mental health is a huge cause for concern – so, what should you be looking out for?
Anxiety
It is very normal and healthy to experience anxiety at certain times in your life, such as on the day you move to university, or just before an important exam. Events like these may cause you to feel nervous or worried, which may be expressed by your body through a variety of normal responses. Anxiety becomes a problem when it is persistent, and instead of only feeling anxious for short periods, you may start noticing that certain symptoms seem ongoing.
Although there are many different types of anxiety disorders, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most commonly experienced by university students. GAD can cause you to experience both psychological and physical symptoms. These might include (but aren’t limited to):
Emotional Symptoms:
- Feeling constantly ‘on edge’
- A sense of impending doom
- Feeling irritable
Physical Symptoms:
- A constant raised heart rate
- Shaking
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Sleep disruption
- Digestive problems (constipation or diarrhoea)
Of course, it is normal for certain periods of your university career to be more stressful than others, such as in the exam season. However, it is recommended to see a doctor if you feel you have been struggling with symptoms to the extent that your daily life is affected. For more recommendations on how GAD may be experienced and treated, see the NHS website.
Depression
Equally, it is entirely normal for all people to sometimes feel sad or a bit low. However, depression is characterised by a constant low mood, which may progress to a severity that means your everyday life and functioning are negatively impacted.
There are many different possible causes of depression, and different people may be triggered by different events or experiences. For example:
- An actual event or situation, such as losing a loved one, experiencing a relationship breakdown or financial difficulties.
- Certain personality traits, such as having low self-esteem and being particularly hard on yourself.
- Your family history – if a member of your family suffers from depression, you may be more likely to experience it yourself.
At university, you may find yourself having difficulties navigating new social and academic environments, which might lead to you experiencing negative thoughts or feeling particularly self-critical.
Depression can cause a variety of symptoms, including (but not only):
- Continuous low mood or feeling of sadness
- Feeling irritable and intolerant of others
- Little to no motivation
- Little to no enjoyment in things
- Feeling tearful
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or feel you are in crisis, The Samaritans have a free, anonymous 24-hour helpline available. The NHS also have a list of organisations who can help via telephone or email.
Physical Symptoms:
- Slower speech and movement
- Weight and appetite changes (often decreased)
- Lack of energy
- Lower sex drive
- Disturbed sleep
Depression is problematic when it begins to impact your daily functioning, which may be visible in a variety of ways. At university, you may find that you fall behind with coursework and meeting deadlines. It’s possible that you also find yourself neglecting some of your domestic responsibilities, such as keeping your room clean, doing laundry, and doing your food shopping. Depression can lead to a variety of negative consequences for university students, such as substance and alcohol dependency, or increased risky behaviours like unsafe sex, which all contribute to the idea of a vicious cycle where negative behaviours cause you to engage in negative thinking, which triggers further negative behaviours, and more.
Why are mental health problems so common for students?
It’s no secret that attending university is an expensive investment for most students, however, with the recent Cost of Living Crisis, students have been some of the hardest hit demographics by the ever-increasing prices and inflation rates. The National Union of Students report that 96% have cut back on essential tasks such as laundry and showers to save money, 90% of students have reported the Crisis having an impact on their mental health, and 30% report this impact to be ‘major’. Perhaps most shocking is that 75% of students reported not being able to afford their course materials. Considering that many students need to balance spending time doing paid work to supplement their government loans, with attending their classes and staying up to date with academic work as well as trying to maintain a healthy social life and relaxation time, it is unsurprising that a huge toll has been taken on their mental health.
Additionally, a huge factor in the poorer mental health among students compared to non-students relates to the high academic pressure they are under to perform well in coursework and exams. While it is true that universities will often have high expectations of their students’ work, this type of pressure is generally a result of an individual’s ambition to do well and get a good job after graduation. This ambition stems not just from a desire to have a career that interests them and supports them well, but also from the perspective of wanting to prove that their investments in their university education (money and time) were worthwhile. This is particularly important considering that England’s graduates are currently facing the worst job market in years. With fewer graduate roles available, as well as lower wages concerning living costs, students can feel even greater pressure to succeed in their studies as well as to spend time boosting their CV with extracurriculars, to have the best chance possible at finding a job after graduation.
How can you look after your mental health at university?
Maintaining your mental health should be a priority at university, although it often gets neglected as schedules get busier and deadlines approach. Some of the easiest and best ways to practice self-care include:
Get regular exercise
Whether you’re a team player, or you prefer the gym, getting regular exercise can be great for clearing your mind, maintaining your immune system, and also for releasing endorphins in your brain. Endorphins are chemicals that your brain produces which increase your happiness and help to relieve pain.
Maintain a balanced diet and drink lots of water
Nutritious meals don’t have to be complicated or expensive. Try to cook each week with a variety of fruits and vegetables, perhaps choose ones that can be used in lots of recipes to make shopping easier and more cost-effective.
Prioritise your sleep schedule
Ensuring you get your 8 hours and stay in a routine can be hard at university, particularly when you begin your degree and want to spend time making friends, as well as during exam season. However, research suggests that lack of sleep is related to difficulty processing positive emotional information, which suggests some truth in the common phrase ‘to wake up on the wrong side of the bed’.
Stay connected to your support network
It is so important to continue making time for the people you care about and to do things you enjoy with them. Even spending a short amount of time with them can improve your mood and help you feel a greater sense of belonging. Withdrawing from your social circles can sometimes cause a ‘downward spiral’ to occur, where your depression/anxiety may stop you from wanting to go out or socialise, but stopping doing these things fuels your struggles further, and this continues in a vicious cycle.
Reach out
All universities have a well-being department that will be able to provide confidential support to you by making suggestions or offering services that are specific to your difficulties.
If you would prefer to reach out to someone outside of your university, Here at Mindsum we offer a range of online guides and self-help services, as well as people to reach out and talk to with options to find the right fit for you!