Project | What works to tackle mental health inequalities in higher education?

About the project

Working with The Centre for Education and Youth, this project aimed to improve understanding of how to support students with mental health concerns to succeed in higher education.

The project involved reviewing the evidence on groups of students that are at greater risk of experiencing poor mental health, which includes students from households of low socioeconomic status; students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and other LGBTQ+ students; and care-experienced students. These at-risk groups are found to also experience poorer higher education outcomes, including lower entry rates, higher dropout rates, lower attainment and a reduced likelihood of progressing into employment or further study.

We then reviewed the evidence base to identify which interventions appear to be the most effective at improving student mental health, specifically in relation to students’ empathy, positive mood, self-efficacy, self-compassion, anxiety and depressive symptoms. A consultation was also carried out, with key stakeholders completing a survey and taking part in online roundtable discussions.  

A series of recommendations resulted from the project, including what future research and work is needed in this area.

Related outputs

Background

Research has found that higher education students experience higher levels of psychological distress than the general population. The proportion of higher education students disclosing a mental health issue to their university rose sixfold between 2010 and 2020, reaching 4.2%. However, research suggests that mental health issues are under-reported. 

Some student groups are more likely to experience poor mental health than others. Given that these groups also experience poorer higher education outcomes, it may be that poor mental health compounds other higher education inequalities. This review aimed to understand which measures are most effective in supporting student mental health, with particular regard to at-risk groups of students.