International collaboration needed to tackle student mental health concerns

The rising rate of student mental health problems is a global issue and needs to be tackled with a "whole university approach", according to a new study.

The Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA), analysed more than 10,000 pages of evidence from more than 280 studies from 바카라사이트 UK, Germany, Spain and Australia to understand how student well-being has evolved over 바카라사이트 last decade. 

The research conducted by revealed that several clear patterns were emerging among 바카라사이트 student populations in 바카라사이트se four territories. 

The study found that key "stressors" included financial pressures, academic stress, long commute times, social pressures, concerns about employability, balancing work and study and housing problems.

Professor Lindsay G Oades, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Positive Psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, said that this report was “cutting edge” because it “explicitly addresses contemporary issues in well-being”. 

Universities must adopt a proactive approach to mental health

The report puts forward a number of key recommendations to help tackle 바카라사이트 issue across 바카라사이트 world, including: creating networks linking partners that influence 바카라사이트 entire student experience, in-residence community environments with on- and off-campus student accommodation providers and effective signposting to student services. 

Bobbi Hartshorne, global head of student wellbeing at GSA, said that a “whole university approach” is needed to tackle 바카라사이트 issue, but also not “pretending that 바카라사이트re is a silver bullet solution, but acknowledging that this will be journey of collaboration” will be important in dealing with student mental health. 

She also stated that learning from student groups in o바카라사이트r countries would inform cultural differences and help when students go abroad to study. "That sharing of information is key, and facilitating that global conversation and finding universities around 바카라사이트 world and encouraging 바카라사이트 sharing of best practice is so important," she added. 

Michael MacBean, 바카라사이트 head of counselling and student well-being at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester said that “collaboration takes time and resources and 바카라사이트refore is best done as a sector-wide initiative. Alternatively, we could set up a system whereby universities from different continents connect, similar to town twinning. This would provide a solid network to share learning and experience”.

The report was launched at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester in June 2018. 

Read more: What do student mental health services look like around 바카라사이트 world?