Why write about mental  health in higher education

The mental health and well-being of young people in Europe is a high concern. In Europe, 40% of students experience mental health issues and approximately one in five struggle with mental disorders¹. Many students suffer anxiety, depression and other serious mental health problems. According to Euniwell², in Europe, 25% of the population is affected by mental illness. 18-25 year-old is the most vulnerable age for developing mental health problems. 

If not addressed, many of these issues can affect the day to day activities of study, progression, success, participation in social life and activities. They can also continue in adulthood and become an issue for people’s personal and professional lives.

Why you should do something about it

Research has shown that mental health issues especially affect young adults, who make up the majority of the student population. Higher education institutions have the responsibility to support students’ well-being and mental health throughout their studies.

• Building mental health programs;
• Raising awareness;
• Offering counseling;
• Implementing processes and technologies to address issues that lead to student disengagement and dropouts…

The list of ways to spot issues on time and provide your students with the right tools and resources to face these kinds of challenges is never ending.

What you will find in our guide

But there is a gap between knowing about these solutions and implementing them. In an attempt to fill it, we published a guide on how to support mental health and well-being in higher education.

Download our guide and find:

• Key statistics highlighting the pressing need to deal with students’ mental health issues;
• Innovative solutions to improve the situation;
• Concrete tools to implement and initiatives to share with your students.

¹Source: European University Association https://eua.eu/resources/expert-voices/283-student-mental-health-across-europe-towards-a-public-mental-health-approach.html 
²Source: European University for Well-Being https://www.euniwell.eu/what-we-offer/seed-funding-programme/projects-of-the-second-seed-funding-call-2021/mental-health-literacy-among-students