Picture this: it’s been a long, hard day of desperately attempting to understand
your newest readings, scrambling to finish work before a fast-approaching
deadline and the still-growing list of things you have to do is making you want
to cry.
In pre-Coronavirus times you might have found yourself going to meet a friend
to relax, or may have even travelled home to see your family pet for a cuddle-
but in a world where we are virtually trapped inside places which are, for many
of us, far from home, where are we finding solace from those hard moments?
A poll by YouGov shows that 27% of students struggle with mental health
issues and some may be thinking; could universities and the government be
helping us in a more effective way?
According to Nightline, a student-run volunteer phoneline, isolation has caused
a staggering increase in calls about loneliness, having tripled in comparison to
the amount that are usually received.
48% of all calls to Nightline are about mental health- a number that shows that
more mental health support for struggling students is urgently needed from
the government and universities.
The University of Sheffield mental health wellbeing page have a variety of
accessible categories online which are used by students to navigate their
specific concerns, however many of those lead to websites and charities
outside the University- is this accessible for all students, particularly if they
don’t feel comfortable or safe calling the numbers provided?
The site also provides a link to their eating disorder clinic as well as SAMHS - the
University’s mental health service which is used by many students. However,
those with anxiety, depression, or any other condition may find it incredibly
difficult to make a first appointment and could miss out as a result of that.
Are these links on a page enough to help a nation of students who are stuck
inside far from home?
Until we’re able to function as normal once again, current help being provided
by universities should be continually checked in order to improve the way they
support thousands of students during this pandemic.
Edited by Pia Cooper