Universities are being urged to do more to address mental health issues as it has been revealed that less than half of students feel enough has been done to support them over the last year.

The results were revealed in a survey conducted by Ivory Research, which found that only 43% of students felt that their university had taken sufficient steps to support their wellbeing during the pandemic and over 40% would have benefitted from more mental health support.

 

Among the worst rated universities in the UK are:

1. Solent University (100%)

2. University of Bedfordshire (98%)

3. St George’s University (98%)

4. Falmouth University (97%)

5. Writtel University (96%)

*% of students who voted that mental health support was either ‘poor' or ‘inadequate’

Among the best rated universities for mental health services in the UK are:

1. University of Worcester (100%)

2. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (100%)

3. University of Central Lancashire (98%)

4. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (96%)

5. Regent’s University, London (96%)

6. BPP University (94%)

7. Heriot-Watt University (94%)

*% of students who voted that mental health support was ‘excellent'

In addition, only 18% of students surveyed voted their university as ‘excellent’ for their one to one support with a further 26% being rated as ‘poor’.

Maria Ovdii from Ivory Research said: “University is a challenging time for all students, but the pandemic has seen students isolated from their peers, tutors and the wider learning community so it comes as no surprise that mental health issues are on the rise.”

“Not only that, remote learning has also seen students denied the quality of education that they are paying for with 29% of students voting that remote learning had negatively impacted their health and 36% voting that it has negatively impacted their motivation. Now more than ever, it is so important that universities are doing everything they can to support their students, both academically and emotionally.”

Many students have taken measures into their own hands and cited exercise, walking, yoga, meditation, cooking or a new hobby as the best ways to improve their mental health.