From a student’s lens: navigating and enhancing student mental health support

Students’ mental health is of utmost importance. Higher education introduces numerous challenges – making friends, defining identity, and academic pressures – while trying to maintain a fulfilling social life. To address these challenges effectively, it’s crucial that students receive early, comprehensive support from various sources, including peer mentors, tutors, professionals, and counselling services.

To make these support systems effective, it’s essential that interventions are transparent and avoid using stigmatising clinical terms. Instead of focusing on barriers or labels, we should emphasise the benefits of seeking help. With targeted support meeting the needs of various student groups with diverse challenges, the benefits of feeling appreciated and seen can extend to a broader change in the student experience. When universities fail to address students’ concerns, it can lead to feelings of invalidation and reluctance to seek help.

Drawing attention to the positive outcomes of support can encourage students to engage with these resources. This, in turn, can lead to a more fulfilling student experience, boosting students’ confidence and self-worth and encouraging them to explore social and career opportunities.

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve encountered my fair share of anxiety and intrusive negative thoughts during my academic journey. I’m grateful for the warm and compassionate chats with pastoral support officers who have listened without judgement and provided resources for managing stress. These conversations reminded me that I’m not just a student with academic obligations but a human deserving of support and understanding.

Moving forward, it’s important to underscore the power of reaching out and checking on peers who might find it difficult to open up about their struggles. Promoting study groups and peer intervention strategies can foster meaningful connections, create a safe space for sharing worries, and reinforce the message that no one is alone in their challenges.

However, it’s vital to recognise that some groups of students are more vulnerable to mental wellbeing struggles, including men, students from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ students, and those with caregiving responsibilities. This underscores the need for mental health interventions that protect against negative lifestyle changes resulting from long-term distress and that reduce disparities in academic attainment and attendance.

Mental health is deeply intertwined with how we perceive our capabilities, manage negative emotions, and navigate our relationships. Cognitive behavioural therapy and psycho-education interventions that build self-efficacy and stress management skills can significantly enhance self-perception while creating a compassionate space for young people to disclose their experiences.

To address these complex challenges, TASO’s Student Mental Health Evidence Hub has proven invaluable. It identifies demographic groups at a higher risk of mental health challenges and explores the relationship between mental well-being, academic performance, and employment outcomes. This resource provides a roadmap for universities, guiding them in implementing the most effective interventions tailored to their unique resources and needs.

Integrating students’ perspectives has been central to developing the Student Mental Health Evidence Hub. By sharing our experiences and recommendations, we’ve helped shape the future of mental health practices in higher education.

Looking ahead, I believe seeing immediate responses to helpline calls in university mental health support services would be beneficial. This could encourage hesitant students to take that crucial first step in seeking help. Moreover, initiatives that foster rapport and mutual respect between staff and students are essential. These professional relationships can empower students to request course adjustments, additional resources, and feedback without fearing negative consequences for their academic progression.

Student mental health is a complex issue that demands a holistic and inclusive approach. By promoting transparency, emphasising the benefits of support, and integrating students’ perspectives, we can create a university environment where wellbeing is prioritised, and students are empowered to thrive academically and psychologically.