Climate Change and Student Mental Health

Climate Change and Student Mental Health, published by Student Minds and funded by the UPP Foundation, is one of the first reports exploring the impact of climate change on mental health in UK higher education. This report invites you to get curious about the relationship between two of the greatest challenges facing our student population.

Key themes explored within this report include agency and leadership, uncertainty, sustainability in the curriculum, the impact on specific student groups, the role of universities and government, and more. We hope this work is a stepping stone for any researcher, activist, policy-maker, university leader or student looking to understand this connection and address these pressing issues.

Selected Findings:

1) 71% of our student respondents are quite or very concerned about climate change; 68% believe we are already feelings its effects 2) 90% of students said climate change impacted their mental health and wellbeing in the preceding four weeks. 3) 37% of our respondents often or always felt that frustration or anger that not enough is being done to tackle climate change 4) 29% often or always feel grief over biodiversity loss 5) 30% often or always feel a negative impact on their emotions due to news or information about climate change 6) Students widely expressed a desire to make a positive contribution to tackling climate change but often felt like they didn’t know where to start. 7) Students expressed significant concerns about the impacts of climate change, climate change inaction, and interventions to address climate change, on specific student groups, including international students, disabled students, commuter students, and students from a lower socio-economic background. 8) Universities have a powerful role to play educating and engaging students in these areas, and preparing them for sustainable career paths

Click on the image above to access a larger version of the findings and be able to zoom in.

Download the report

Read the press release

HEPI webinar recording with Student Minds and the UPP Foundation, 18 October 2023

This is a recording from the online event by HEPI, in conjunction with Student Minds and the UPP Foundation, on the findings of a new report, Climate Change and Student Mental Health, on the links between student wellbeing and climate change. You can also find the recording on YouTube.

Speakers include:

Rosie Tressler, CEO, Student Minds
Jenny Smith, Policy Manager, Student Minds
Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol
Eddie Rose, Student Staff Representative, Students Organising for Sustainability-UK
Richard Brabner, Director, UPP Foundation
Chair: Rose Stephenson, HEPI Director of Policy and Advocacy

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