University students embarrassed to seek mental health help, survey finds

Three quarters of university students admit they don’t ask for help with their mental health because they’re embarrassed, they don’t know where to find it or they think it’s a waste of time. This is according to a study by Unihealth, the health and wellbeing messaging platform for students.

The survey also showed that almost of quarter (23 per cent) of students suffer from panic attacks during exam time and 27 per cent seriously consider dropping out of university all together. Despite this, only seven per cent seek help from a counsellor.

Sixty-four per cent of students put pressure on themselves during exam time, rather than academic tutors (12 per cent) or parents (12 per cent). This is leading to an increase in negative behaviour such as eating badly, which almost half (49 per cent) of students admitted they do more of during exam time, pulling all-nighters (35 per cent) and drinking alcohol (16 per cent).

The survey found over three quarters (76 per cent) of students believe more wellbeing support from their university, support to help fit into ‘university life’ and ways to talk about their unhappiness would stop them from dropping out of studies. Nearly a third (28 per cent) would prefer to receive advice from a private message sent directly to their smartphone.

The survey also found that running out of money has caused 31 per cent stress and feeling lonely affected 16 per cent.