Page 5 - $TUD£NT$ magazine

HEALTH AND

WELLBEING

Trigger warning – this article

deals with the topic of mental
health. If you or anyone is af-

fected by the topics discussed

in this article please seek help
from a trusted adult, your friends

and family, or your local GP.

By Oluwatomisin
Olumoroti ental health affects every- diminishing among the general public
one. It influences how pioneered by young people in the new
we feel about ourselves digital age, government initiatives and
and how we interact investments into tackling mental health
Mwith the people around using resources like the NHS and part-
us. Most of us know someone who is ner charities there has never been a bet-
affected by mental health challenges, ter time than now for people afflicted
whether we know about it or not. Men- with mental health challenges to seek
tal health are affected by biological fac- the help they might need and feel heard.
tors, namely genetics and family history.
Student can feel particulary affected at the
Some forms of mental health can be at- start of term when students are adjusting
tributed to life experiences such and to being away from home or over the holi-
trauma and stress. 1 in 4 students expe- days, where those who remain on campus
riences mental health problems while may feel isolated and lonely. Mental health
at university. Financial strain among challenges can occur at any stage of life; Over the last decade a lot has hap-
students at university has been linked recent statistic commissioned in 2019, pened with dramatic changes to our
to the rising incidents of mental health show that over half, 50.3% of students, politics, both domestic and globally, so-
challenges reported between 2010 – reported thoughts of self-harm, while over cial attitudes, consumer behaviour, and
2019, with ever-increasing tuition fees 44.7% reported using drugs and alcohol if you are like me - born in 1999 - your
and insufficient maintenance loans, sec- to help cope with their mental health chal- teenage years are coming to an end and
ond and third-year students are certain- lenges. The research also concluded that you are now a fully-fledged and func-
ly feeling extreme pressure to succeed second and third-year students are at a tioning adult with responsibilities, try-
with direct competition from their peers. ‘significantly higher risk’ of psychologi- ing to navigate an increasingly apathet-
cal vulnerability than first-year students. ic world with attitudes towards mental
With the stigma around mental health health in the United Kingdom evolving..
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