Students suffering with mental health

Money and career worries are to blame

EDUCATION: Nearly half of students studying in a Yorkshire city say they suffer from mental health problems, a survey says. Concerns over workload, exams, money and career prospects were blamed by students in York.

NEARLY HALF of students studying in a Yorkshire city say they suffer from mental health problems, a survey has found.

Concerns over workload, exams, money and career prospects were blamed by students in York for mounting stress.

Among 1,800 who responded to an assessment of health among students, 45 per cent said they were suffering from depression, anxiety or other mental problems. A quarter said they were receiving treatment, while a further one in five believed they had an undiagnosed condition.

The report was ordered by councillors to examine student health in the city amid a focus on mental wellbeing in the wake of a number of suicides. It found the prevalence of mental illness among students was “high, and is increasing year on year”.

Survey results suggested approaching half of students could have a diagnosable condition, “which in terms of numbers would have huge repercussions on service provision”.

Depression and anxiety were the most commonly reported but eating disorders were also a significant concern.

Among the group who thought they had an undiagnosed illness, analysis of their wellbeing was similar to those who were receiving treatment. The report found a third of those responding to the survey had sought support in the area for mental health problems but 34 per cent of these did not find it helpful.

Problems accessing care were among the complaints, adding to pressures on GPs and counselling services which were dealing with year-on-year increases in numbers needing treatment, including more complex cases.

Difficulties had been exacerbated following the sudden closure of the city’s Bootham Park Hospital two years ago, leaving more people requiring inpatient care being transferred out of the area for treatment than anywhere else in England.

Some students had visited A&E for help, while others turned to services closer to family homes. Carried out over nine months, the assessment looked at all aspects of health for 31,000 students in higher education at York University, York St John University, York College and Askham Bryan College.