According to a survey, universities need “immediate improvement” in order for students to receive the mental health care that they require.
Nearly half of the 7,200 students polled by charity Humen felt that their university experience was negatively affected by mental health issues.
Research also showed that only 4% of employees received adequate training.
River Hawkins, the founder of Humen, believes that support should be valued as much as academic achievements.
Research by the mental healthcare charity found that 57% of students had used mental health services offered by their university. 47% said difficulties had a negative effect on their experience.
He said that while it was encouraging to see universities doing well in Humen’s university mental health league table table, universities must make immediate improvements.
Daniel Banister began at the University of Edinburgh on September 2020, in the first year of coronavirus pandemic. He was also anxious.
The 19-year old physics student says that she was thinking about something. She also recalls past issues where it turned out that one of her eyes had been damaged.
He said that Covid had “overloaded my brain completely and in a strange way”, and he began to think things “were wrong”.
His mental health issues have “definitely made it less fun” for him at university.
Humen’s data shows that 73% of men attempted to access university services after struggling with their mental health.
Only 19% of male students have been diagnosed by a doctor with a mental illness.
Daniel reached out to his university, and he claims they sent him helpful emails. However, it was often “a few more days” than the help he received from his parents.
Instead, he sought help outside of university. He was treated with cognitive behavioural therapy. This is a treatment that reduces symptoms of various mental illnesses.
“The doctors told me that there was a very small chance that my eye isn’t functioning properly.
“There is a greater chance that I was thinking about it, almost making it real.”
Ellie McNicol believes her mental health has had a “negative impact” on her university experience. Her biggest struggle is loneliness.
She was also enrolled in classes during the pandemic when most lessons were held online.
“Not being able to meet the people on your courses or other people around me. “The social aspect was removed for a year, and a half,” says the 21-year old.
“Most of the teaching was done online, and it was also a great week for freshers. It was difficult to meet new people, and we were confined to our bubbles.
“That was the most important thing that ever happened to me.”
Ellie began university in 2020 with a UWE Bristol sports rehabilitation degree, then switched to nursing.
“If I tried to join a group right now, I would probably feel much more anxious going to a group that already knows each other.”
She believes she was lucky with the people she was with and the family she was around.
Ellie claims UWE has been “very kind” to her care. They gave her a wellness call each month.
“But there is always more to be done, and reporting mental illness would be easier if there were an actual person to talk with.”
It’s hard to see through text. In person, you can see the larger picture. It’s easy to just type your thoughts and hit the backspace key.
Daniel is adamant that support in person is vital and can make a “big difference” for people.
“More people hear it, and realize that this might be what you have as well.” He adds that people talk about it and then continue to discuss it.”
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram and Facebook.
Listen live to Newsbeat at 12:45 and 17.45 weekdays, or go back here.
