# 1 Introduction and background

There has been an increased focus on student mental health in higher education in recent years, with student mental health suggested to be ‘in crisis’. A recent UK parliamentary report stated that student mental health difficulties have increased six-fold since 2010 (Lewis and Bolton, 2023). Recent studies by Lewis and Stiebahl (2025) and Mason et al. (2025) suggest that the growing prevalence is a long-term problem and global issue, pre-dating but amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Not only does poor mental health impact students’ overall wellbeing, but there also is growing evidence that mental health difficulties have significant negative impacts on students’ attainment, progression and study outcomes (Hughes and Spanner, 2019; Office for Students, 2019; Winzer, 2018; Thorley, 2017).

University students are more likely to experience or develop mental health difficulties than similar aged adults, suggesting studying at university is a negative influencing factor (Brown, 2016; Winzer et al., 2018). According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2025), factors that contribute to students having poor mental health include moving away from home, academic and financial pressures, and the absence of familiar social and emotional support networks. This link, however, is complex as most undergraduate students are at the age when they experience the developmental process of emerging adulthood, when most mental health difficulties develop. The combination of this major developmental adjustment with the challenges of adapting to and coping with university life and study, combine in a way that can trigger or exacerbate mental health difficulties.

## Activity 1

What impacts can poor university mental health have on students?

(a) reduced wellbeing
(b) lower rates of study continuation
(c) lower rates of attainment
(d) lower rates of progression into skilled workforce or further study
(e) less preparedness for working life
(f) lower future occupational performance

### Answer

Correct answer: All of the above

Various studies have demonstrated numerous negative impacts for students who report poor mental health (Hughes and Spanner, 2019; Office for Students, 2019; Winzer, 2018; Thorley, 2017).

Since the consequences of mental health difficulties can be far reaching, it’s important that students are able to understand what support is available and to access the right support early on to enable them to succeed with their studies. The rest of this course focuses on support for students and how universities can support them. The next section focuses on teaching staff, drawing on evidence from an Open University study on staff experiences of providing support to students with a mental health difficulty (Simons and Macaulay, 2025).

OpenLearn - Supporting university students with a mental health condition
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