Sustain Health : Student Mental Health

Mental Health Help For Students

University is stressful. Whether it’s upcoming deadlines, financial pressure or exam stress, many students find that they suffer from varying levels of stress during their time at uni. With this in mind, when does this stress become a mental health problem? Especially importantly, how is student mental health treated?

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Lifestyle and fitness website Sustain Health spoke to the CEO of Smart TMS, Gerard Barnes. The interview focused on the surprising results of recent research produced by the company. Quoting figures from the Smart TMS Happiness Index, they state;

“A staggering 29% of 18-24 year olds find simple everyday functions more difficult than they used to, while 32% of 18-24 year olds regularly cancel plans with friends to avoid social interactions.”

Gerard replied;

“These are clear signs of depression and anxiety, which are often characterized by low self-esteem, an increase in substance abuse and a loss of the ability to carry out simple functions without overthinking.”

The wait for treatment

Of course, it would be wonderful if no one suffered with mental illness, but this isn’t the realistically case. It’s clear that around 1 in 3 students in university are suffering from depression and anxiety. Recently, Sir Norman Lamb, the ex-health secretary, has led a study highlighting the impact of poor mental health support in universities. According to Sustain Health’s overview of the study, students may have to wait up to three months to receive counselling or other support. However, a lot can happen in 12 weeks. In the meantime, there is a possibility that mental health can decline further and as a consequence, students could reach the point of crisis.

Gerard comments;

“At Smart TMS, we recognise that many young people have difficulty accessing treatment or counselling. These are essential to help people cope with their mental health. More needs to be done to help young people access care, particularly students who are dealing with constant pressure and an intense environment.”

Could more be done to help students?

Despite students struggling with their mental health, it seems that more could be done to help them. It’s widely known that the NHS is suffering from funding and staffing shortages. However, universities could take more responsibility for the welfare of the students. There are a number of ways in which help and support that could be offered by universities. For instance, these could include:

  • Meditation/Yoga
  • Mindfulness sessions
  • Individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • On-site medical professionals
  • Referrals for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Smart TMS

Treating anxiety and depression is common for the teams at Smart TMS. Overall, approximately 25% of patients we have treated for anxiety and depression are younger than 34. Research suggests that as we age, just like our eyes and skin, our brains lose elasticity. Subsequently, young people tend to respond quicker to TMS treatment and need fewer sessions than an older patient.

We have welcomed students to our clinics from universities across the country, including Manchester, Bristol, Bath and Nottingham. In addition to great care, students are also offered 15% off any treatment booked. All things considered, we understand that mental health is an important aspect of your study and would love to help you.

Contact Us

Are you a student struggling with your mental health? Contact our team of friendly patient advisors to learn more about how Smart TMS can help you cope better with the pressures of university:

(UK)

(IE)