One in three female students in the UK has a mental health problem, a survey suggests.
This compared with about a fifth of male undergraduates, the YouGov survey of 1,061 students found.
Overall, some 27% of the students said they had a mental health problem. This rose to 45% among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
Universities UK said institutions were working hard to develop good services that linked in with the NHS.
Of those students who said they had a mental health problem:
- 77% had depression
- 74% had anxiety
In May, official statistics showed student suicides had risen to their highest level since numbers were first recorded in 2007.
These figures – for 2014 – showed 130 suicides in England and Wales among full-time students aged 18 or above.
There has been concern about the level of mental health support services provided by universities.
But the survey showed the students were broadly aware of the mental health services offered by their universities.
Underlying illness
Some 18% had already made contact with university mental health services, and, of those who had, nearly nine out of 10 had seen a counsellor
Chief executive of Universities UK Nicola Dandridge said: “Universities take student mental health very seriously.
“For some students, an unfamiliar higher education environment can be stressful, particularly for those who already have an underlying illness.
“Some students are reluctant to disclose their difficulties, which can also present a challenge for universities seeking to support them.
“However, the development of policies and anti-stigma campaigns is now beginning to address both these issues.
“The challenge for universities is to build on the support services and external links that exist already, enabling referral to the NHS where necessary.
“It is important to remember that university wellbeing services, however excellent, cannot replace the specialised care that the NHS provides for students with mental illnesses.”
Universities UK also said it had issued guidance to all universities last year with advice on dealing with students with mental health issues.
[Source:- BBC]
