Universities tackling problem as

The University of Kent (UKC) has revealed that almost 1,100 students sought counselling for mental anxiety, depression or stress in the last academic year.

Like other campuses, UKC and Canterbury Christ Church University have suffered their share of deaths from suicide.

Nationally, rates are increasing with, on average, a student life lost every four days, according to the Office of National Statistics. Young men are said to make up the majority of those deaths.

In the year leading up to July 2017, 95 university students took their own lives in England and Wales.

The issue of mental health is taken “very seriously” by bosses at both city campuses.

UKC spokesman Dan Worth says: “We have dedicated student support and wellbeing teams that offer free support to all enrolled students experiencing distress arising from psychological, emotional or mental health issues.”

Help available also includes specialist practitioners on campus who can offer advice and an outreach wellbeing adviser who can visit students at places where they feel comfortable.

Mr Worth continues: “We provide daily crisis drop in sessions for students to be seen urgently and arrange various events through the year including workshops such as mindfulness, stress and anxiety management, goal setting, coping strategies and an annual Wellbeing Festival.

“The university has also invested in a subscription to Big White Wall, which is a 24/7 online mental health and wellbeing service, which offers peer support and directed self-help programmes. It is available to all students throughout their studies.

“We have University Nursing Services on campus