Fears for mental health of young people af fected
LOCKED-DOWN students will become the ‘forgotten population’, with their disrupted education and social lives eventualy leading to mental health problems, a leading psychiatrist has warned.
Dr Jane Morris, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said students who have already endured stress around their exam grades and university applications this year because of the pandemic are now facing unprecedented challenges being away from home with restricted living conditions.
Students across Scotland have been told not to go to pubs this weekend or to go home, as hundreds have been forced to self-isolate at halls of residence following a number of Covid-19 outbreaks around the country.
This follows the closure of schools last term, forcing pupils to study at home.
Covid outbreaks have been reported at halls of residence in Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
Yesterday, the First Minister directly addressed students during her daily coronavirus briefing, insisting they are not to blame for the rise in cases of the pandemic and apologising for the tough measures they are now living under.
But Dr Morris, a consultant psychiatrist at NHS Grampian with a special interest in young people’s mental health, said the rules imposed on students – some of whom are only 17 when they start their higher education in Scotland – will make it harder for university staff to look out for their wellbeing.
Dr Morris said last night: ‘This autumn’s new students will have already been stressed by the uncertainties and challenges around their exam grades and university applications.
‘Now, those who bravely decided to go ahead with their studies are facing further restrictions on their education and social life.
‘The rules make it harder for academic staff, senior students and parents to keep a tactful eye on wellbeing.
‘Some are away from home at a very early age and may have planned weekend visits home or visits from their parents to help them feel secure.
‘If we are not careful, then students will become the forgotten population with an imperfect education as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘This will have a profound effect – storing up mental health problems for the future.’
There are currently about 250,000 students in Scotland, with up to 35,000 living in university halls and 10,000 in private halls.
Speaking at her daily briefing at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh, Miss Sturgeon urged students not to visit other households or go to bars and
‘It’s a forgotten population’ ‘Counsellors are on hand’
restaurants over the September weekend and to download the Protect Scotland app.
The First Minister said universities are responsible for supporting students’ mental health during outbreaks in student accommodation and have a ‘big, big responsibility’ to look out for their welfare.
She told the briefing: ‘I’ve spoken personally this morning to university principals to stress their responsibilities to you and I know it is something they take seriously, but I also know that it’s something that parents will want to be assured of.
‘Student services already have special arrangements in place including 24-hour helplines, support for food deliveries and additional mental health counsellors for those who might need that support.’