University Mental Health: Life in a Pandemic

University Mental Health: Life in a Pandemic​

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Throughout 2020 and 2021, higher education communities have faced a range of unique and wide-reaching challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact. Students and staff have experienced significant disruption and uncertainty as universities have adapted to remote working and learning environments. These challenges, coupled with the inherent stress and uncertainty of a global pandemic, have impacted the mental health and wellbeing of members of our university communities. 

As the UK’s student mental health charity, we made it our priority to listen to higher education communities. Through our own research, we found: 

  • 74% of students reported that Covid-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing at university 
  • 49% of students reported that the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted their financial situation
  • Two thirds of respondents say they have ‘often felt isolated or lonely since March 2020’  
  • 82% of respondents say the Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted their academic experience 
  • 65% of respondents say they needed additional help/advice during the Covid-19 pandemic. Of these, just 19% actually got the help they needed. 

Our findings are explored throughout the report, which covers topics including (but not limited to): the Black and Minority Ethnic Experience in the last year, Women’s Safety at University, accommodation, finances, experiences of online learning, staff wellbeing, and access to support. 

The report includes a set of policy recommendations, aimed at supporting the higher education and health sectors to move beyond the pandemic positively. These include: 

  • The government should provide universal and targeted financial support for students, with a minimum £500 payment for all students as well as top-up funding for those disproportionately impacted.
  • Universities should co-produce approaches to pedagogy, with flexibility and sensitivity to students’ individual needs and preferences. 
  • Universities and the government should put measures in place to tackle and prevent digital poverty.
  • The government and universities should prioritise prevention and early intervention of mental health problems through greater funding and active cultural change.
  • Universities, the government and the NHS should plan for the mental health impacts of the pandemic to outlast the pandemic itself. 

A full, detailed list of our recommendations is also available from page 69 of the report, or in our executive summary. 

Download the report, as well as the executive summary and a statistics sheet with our headline findings below. We hope that the report offers a helpful starting point for both the higher education and health sectors to reflect on the impact of the past 18 months and plan for positive steps forward, beyond the pandemic.
Update: March 2022
Since publishing University Mental Health: Life in a Pandemic, we’ve witnessed the end of coronavirus restrictions in England along with the beginning of a new academic year. We have also conducted two further waves of research; the second in September 2021 and the third in January 2022.
This research was funded by Office for Students and Higher Education Funding Council for Wales as part of Student Space.
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Student Minds is a Charity registered in England and Wales, 1142783