This morning The Times reported that Bristol University has had 10 student suicides over the last 3 years – and the BBC published the piece (Here ) to highlight “A Universities UK report found some students risked “slipping through the gaps” due to a lack of co-ordination between the NHS and universities.”
Rather than wonder about the “snowflake generation” and how they cope – it is clear that much more needs to be done to support students – to avoid harm, reduced drop-out rates and to help them to study better and to be able to deal with their exams.
Here are some finding from a Yougov poll (UK) in 2017:
- Over 1 in 4 (27%) of students report a Common Mental Disorder (CMD) higher than in whole pop – 19% male v 34% female
- Of these 77% have symptoms of depression and 75% have symptoms on anxiety (– about 50% have both)
- 6 in 10 students (63%) say they experience stress interfering with their daily life and performance
- Causes of stress: 77% “fear of failure; 71% course work; 39% employment prospects; 35% family, 23% relationships and 23% friends
- 31% of students say they are lonely
and
- At 16 years: 70% are regularly sad or anxious; 22% everyday (Barnardos)
- 16 years stress factors: school (83%); future (80%) (then home, bullying, weight) (Barnardos)
- FE Students: only 9% confident about their exams (PushOn/Ryman)
- FE Student stress factors: themselves (70%); teachers (68%); parents (39%) (PushOn/Ryman)
Helping students to avoid such problems and supporting them achieve better results is one of our objectives at Carina Sciences. Building resilience from mindfulness will help – but the colleges also need to invest in the pastoral care and emergency support to avoid tragic outcomes.