It’s the end of November, the excitement of Freshers’ Week is over now, and teenagers all over the country who’ve just started university are settling into a new way of life.

Many are living away from home for the first time, with all the challenges this entails: managing their finances, cooking their own meals and looking after themselves independently (while still bringing their washing home now and again, of course).

It is an exciting time but can be a daunting one too, and some students struggle to cope.

There may be peer pressure to go out and socialise when they’re worried about spending too much money; or if they stay in when everyone else is out having fun, they may feel left out and isolated.

The newly released Student Mental Health Study 2024 reveals just how tough university can be for some young people. Some key points it highlights are:

*Three-quarters (75%) of respondents regularly worry about their mental health and a similar proportion (73%) worry about their physical health, showing just how much mental load young people carry day to day;

*Three in five students worry daily about exams and academic deadlines;

*A marked year-on-year change to the number of respondents saying they have never experienced mental health difficulties, down from 23% (one in four) in 2023 to 14% (one in seven) in 2024;

*One in three (33%) of students were experiencing mental health difficulties while answering the survey’s questions – worse than reported in the immediate pandemic and post-pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, where the figures were 16% and 18% respectively;

*The number of respondents experiencing frequent money worries in the last 12 months has risen to two out of three students (67%), with only one in seven (14%) saying they had never experienced money worries, or only had them once or twice a year.

Jay Harrison, who manages Norfolk and Waveney Mind’s Suicide Bereavement Service, often works closely with universities and colleges where students have been in mental health crisis.

He says: “The figures around money worries ring especially true, as financial strife is a key driver for poor mental health. Effective budgeting can be a real struggle when attending uni and living independently for the first time."

There are several money management apps available that break down monthly expenditure and help you to realise where savings can be made. Often, this highlights a need for financial education at Key Stage 4 level as students transition into independence.

“Learning what’s available in the local area – cheap deals, student nights etc – can help. Things like TooGoodToGo, through which shops and cafes offer unsold food at a discount, can also be a great way of supporting yourself on the cheap: www.toogoodtogo.com.

“I’m not surprised at the findings on worries relating to deadlines and exam pressures.

"I have heard from students wanting an extension due to a complex bereavement or who are struggling with their mental health. The paperwork for this and evidence needed to “prove” that they are eligible for this only added to the pressure and anxiety, creating an atmosphere where they did not feel able to ask for help.

As long as this is the case, that figure will remain high.”

Students who find themselves in such difficulties may not know where to turn for help.

The provision of mental health support varies between universities. To give the University of East Anglia as an example, the Wellbeing team in Students Services can offer counselling and talking therapies, and students can also speak to a doctor at the university’s Medical Centre. Organisations such as Norfolk and Waveney Mind can also offer support. Callum Mackelden, an Intensive Crisis Worker at our REST Norwich hub in Churchman House, Bethel Street, is setting up a student support network and has this advice for anyone concerned about the mental health of someone studying at university.

Some signs to look out for would be the following:

*If you notice a sudden drop in a student’s attendance, this could be for academic or social reasons. If students start to miss out on events or classes this can be a sign towards concerns for their wellbeing.

*Another sign could be when students have a sudden change of opinion about their course.

*If students are requesting more time to complete tasks regularly, this could indicate that support may be needed.

“Students can contact their universities student support networks for guidance,” Callum adds. “At REST Norwich, we can also provide support for any student over the age of 18. Some of the services we offer include drop-in appointments seven days a week up until 3.30pm, and if someone comes to us following a referral, six weeks of 1-2-1 emotional support. We have different drop-in groups throughout the hub and a youth group for ages 18-25 that runs each Monday from 4pm.

“We also have the Evening Sanctuary, which can be accessed through 111 option 2 for non-clinical crisis appointments in the evening up until 10.30pm, seven days a week.”

Now in its fourth year, the Student Mental Health Study was conducted by Cibyl in partnership with Accenture, Imperial College London and Universities UK.

The work was also assisted by the mental health charity Student Minds. It was completed online between October 2023 and February 2024 by 12,644 respondents from more than 145 universities, including UEA.

For more details of the survey’s results, visit www.cibyl.com/cibyl-insights/student-mental-health-research-uk-2024

For general resources and information about Norfolk and Waveney Mind’s other services, visit norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk or call 0300 330 5488. For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 option 2. 

*Keiron Pim is communications manager for Norfolk and Waveney Mind