Have you heard the news? Shawn Mendes has cancelled three weeks' worth of shows, citing the need for self-care and restoring his mental health. In response to Shawn's Twitter disclosure, fellow musician Andy Grammer Insta'ed "Proud of you for doing what you need".
For so long, mental health has been stigmatized. It wasn't that long ago that performers of all types, singers, dancers and even athletes 'pushed through' their traumas and troubles; often with pharmaceutical help, so that they could respond to the "hows life?" question so often thrown at them with "Fine and dandy, thanks!".
And why would anyone think anything different about rich, renowned, beautiful, talented people?
Shawn Mendes is 23 years old; a touch older than the average age of university students UK. Simone Biles was just a year older than that when she withdrew from several Olympic events in 2020, citing mental health concerns.
As more of the younger renowneds openly discuss their mental health concerns, the stigma against mental health recedes and people from all walks of life feel more comfortable discussing their own struggles to stay in balance. Student anxiety inevitably becomes a part of that discussion.
Between peer pressure and the mandate for success, the stressed student stereotype is nothing new. However, two factors change their dynamic: the openness surrounding discussions of mental health and the new variables students stress over:
- environmental deterioration
- climate change
- economics and personal financial matters
- the lack of professional opportunities
- war, armed conflict and nuclear annihilation
All of those external factors can be downright debilitating when piled onto the usual uni stress over coursework deadlines, exams, and dorm living - possibly with people you don't get along with.
Student stress statistics UK are dismal, indeed. So let's dive deeper into the causes of student anxiety, how it can affect you, what to watch for to halt the slide into mental unwellness, and how you can safeguard your mental health at university.
Student Mental Health, Defined
Generally defined, mental health is the sum of psychological, social and emotional wellbeing. Your capacity to enjoy life and manage your various daily activities, and how well you build psychological resilience are all markers of mental health.
Where student mental health is concerned, this definition lays out that demographic's unique challenges.
The average age of university students UK is 21. Some may opt to take a gap year before uni but, usually, students start working on their undergraduate degree when they're 19, after earning suitable marks on their A-Levels. At that age, unless the student has led an unusually difficult life, they haven't had time to build up much psychological resilience.
Also, at that age, few students are well enough organized to not suffer flashes of panic over a forgotten assignment or lost personal item.
As for university student life, one could hardly call it enjoyable; at least, not at the outset.
As mentioned before, students are under pressure to perform - turn in assignments on time, earn acceptable marks on exams and be disciplined enough to self-study. On top of that, a particularly stressed student might miss living at home, worry about the friends, family and pets they left behind and feel uncertain about forming new relationships with their dorm- and classmates.
Causes of Student Anxiety
Over the decades and centuries of formal education, the causes of student anxiety haven't changed, especially not certain aspects of uni stress. For many, back then as now, it represents the first significant break away from all that is safe and familiar: friends and family, the school they'd attended for so many years, the towns and neighbourhoods where everyone knew who they 'belonged' to, if not their name and where they lived.
Less talked about and arguably less understood is the fact that, as students' awareness and understanding of the wider world grow, so too does student anxiety.
Economics students begin to understand the flaws in world economic systems; they become adept at seeing the weaknesses and how impactful and damaging those machinations are. Science students come to realize the limitations of the natural world and the harm modern life inflicts on it. Even students of The Arts are not absolved of such consciousness. For instance, students in fashion design learn about frightful inequalities so rife in the industry, and how debilitating fast fashion is to our environment.
Their inputs are not limited to new information learned in class, either. A stressed student, released from parental controls over their media diet, may discover entirely different worldviews from those they've held to be absolute truths.
And then, there's money.
University student life likely being their first time away from home unchaperoned, they run into the confines of their financial condition. They might want new clothes or to enjoy the same experiences their classmates brag about but they don't have the funds for it. Such cases put them on the back foot in the competition for social status and acceptance.
That perceived inequality drives the already stressed student into deeper anxiety and, possibly, even into a profound case of student depression. They might have been able to blame strict household finances on their lack of spending money before but that excuse doesn't wash with the university crowd.
Student Mental Health Statistics
Three years ago, The Guardian reported that 80% of all UK students in higher education laboured under uni stress. while another poll nudged that number to 90%. Those polls were taken before the coronavirus pandemic sent everyone into isolation.
Considering that a 2019 poll found fully 33% of all students felt lonely even before the pandemic, today's numbers should sound the alarm for anyone concerned about student mental health. A more recent poll, from 2021, showed that nearly twice that number, 63% endure a lonely life.
Coming out of COVID isolation did little to improve that trend, even as mental health at university took another hit.
The pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy and personal finances alike. Unfortunately, the end of COVID lockdowns did not signal a return to any sort of financial stability as inflation soared but wallets grew no fatter. Indeed, the cost of higher education is a significant source of student anxiety; many are beginning to wonder if the high cost of further education and the time spent not being active in the workforce are even worth it.
To all of that, add systemic university student life stressors aggravated by recent and current events.
Racism and sexism, particularly prevalent in STEM courses make matters much worse, especially as over half of the UK university student body identifies as female and white students are more than twice as likely to receive course help, teacher attention and higher marks. Such disparities make white students' social acceptance over any other demographic obvious; they impact university student life for concerned populations in all aspects, not just learning.
All of this and more makes for a precarious picture of student mental health.
Student Mental Health Support
Considering the worrying university student mental health statistics and rising indicators of student depression, most universities are stepping up their awareness of mental health in university students. They're finding ways to encourage sound student mental health.
Student mental health support services are one resource available to students; another is raising awareness of student problems, everything from exam pressure to existential depression. Some universities have even embraced therapy animal programs, making dogs and even cats available for students to read to or just enjoy some quiet time with.
It's common knowledge that being misunderstood or outright not understood is a driver of depression - particularly student depression, because being surrounded by peers and activity while not feeling like you're a part of things often leads to feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
Every stressed student, regardless of the causes of their stress - existential or standard uni stress, should seek help through their mental health university clinic. There, you will find an array of initiatives to help you manage student anxiety; everything from peer mentoring programs to student charities you could get involved with.
Keeping active is one of the best ways to cater to your mental health so if student charities don't appeal to you, you can try other programs the Student Union has to offer. You might, for instance, join a sports or activities club, such as chess or broadcasting.
If you are indeed the student that stresses over money, perhaps the Student Union, your department head or the mental health uni counsellor's office has a list of part-time jobs that wouldn't impact your studies too much.
Remember this important note: while your stress is unique to you and your circumstances, you are not alone in feeling stressed. You can help yourself while helping others overcome their student depression by reaching out to them, either as a friend or a tutor.
Speaking of tutors...
Surely, you know that even young children express student anxiety, right? If you feel you're not up to helping your peers earn better grades, maybe college and secondary school students preparing for their exams could use your help, guidance and wisdom. After all, who better to advise them than someone who has just undergone the ordeal themselves?
Student stress statistics UK scream the need for action. You can help improve those numbers by first looking after your own mental and physical well-being, and then, by helping others find their balance.
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