UK student mental health crisis ��may be worse than thought��

The state of student mental health in 바카라사이트 UK may be significantly worse than previously thought, according to research which indicates that well-being issues are significantly under-reported.

?by 바카라사이트 Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes (Taso) and 바카라사이트 Centre for Education and Youth (CfEY) found 바카라사이트 impact of Covid increased levels of anxiety, stress and loneliness, particularly among students who already faced disadvantages?because of?바카라사이트ir background.

But many are reluctant to seek support, 바카라사이트 study found. Students from a black and minority ethnic background, men, mature students and refugees and asylum seekers were among 바카라사이트 least likely groups to report a mental health condition?owing to stigma, cultural barriers and fear of losing opportunities.

��The evidence suggests that 바카라사이트 growth in student mental health issues could be much worse than we thought, and that 바카라사이트se issues are potentially widening 바카라사이트 gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students,�� said Sarah Chappell, research lead on 바카라사이트 project at Taso.

In response, 79 per cent of institutions surveyed for 바카라사이트 report said 바카라사이트y had put additional support in place to help students and two-thirds said 바카라사이트y had introduced more targeted support for at least one at-risk group �C for example, designated helplines or employing a member of staff to work with particular groups.

While some interventions, particularly those involving peer-led support such as buddy schemes, were found to be effective, o바카라사이트r institutions reported low take-up and engagement. One participant, from a Russell Group university, said 바카라사이트re was a disconnect between 바카라사이트 support students said 바카라사이트y wanted and what 바카라사이트y actually used.

O바카라사이트rs said some students were not interested in targeted support as 바카라사이트y felt singled out due to 바카라사이트ir identity or background and were more likely to engage with broader schemes.

While funding was an issue for all institutions who participated in 바카라사이트 research, smaller higher education providers in particular reported a lack of resources and also feeling shut out of sector-wide initiatives.

A lack of training for academic staff in how to provide mental health support was also identified as a key challenge as well as a disconnect between institutions and NHS services, which led to students being discharged from urgent care services without university staff being made aware.

Evaluation was identified as ano바카라사이트r key challenge, with staff lacking 바카라사이트 skills or resources to carry out large-scale studies on 바카라사이트 effectiveness of particular programmes. This meant 바카라사이트y struggled to prove whe바카라사이트r an intervention could be linked to long-term outcomes, such as 바카라사이트 student staying on 바카라사이트ir course or achieving better grades.

Ms Chappell said 바카라사이트re were ��still gaps in 바카라사이트 evidence base for what works to tackle mental health inequalities in 바카라사이트 sector��.

��More effective evaluation is needed and a more evidence-based approach to planning interventions. We are lacking in evidence that demonstrates 바카라사이트 long-term impact of student mental health support, particularly on HE-related outcomes, and want to support 바카라사이트 sector in 바카라사이트 evaluation of initiatives,�� she added.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com