Young people who are in higher education in England face a small increased risk of depression and anxiety, compared to their peers who are not attending higher education, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.
The research paper, published in The Lancet Public Health, is the first to find evidence of higher levels of depression and anxiety among higher education students compared with their peers.
The authors found that by age 25, the difference had disappeared between graduates and non-graduates.
Lead author Dr Gemma Lewis (UCL Psychiatry) said: “In recent years in the UK we have seen an increase in mental health problems among young people, so there has been an increased focus on how to support students. Here we have found concerning evidence that students may have a higher risk of depression and anxiety than their peers of the same age who are not in higher education.
“The first couple of years of higher education are a crucial time for development, so if we could improve the mental health of young people during this time it could have long term benefits for their health and wellbeing, as well as for their educational achievement and longer-term success.”
The researchers used data from the Longitudinal Studies of Young People in England (LSYPE1 and LSYPE2). The first study included 4,832 young people born in 1989-90, who were aged 18-19 in the years 2007-9. The second study included 6,128 participants born in 1998-99, who were aged 18-19 in the years 2016-18 (i.e., prior to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic). In both studies, just over half attended higher education.
Participants in the studies have completed surveys about their general mental health, to investigate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction, at multiple time points over the years.
The researchers found a small difference in symptoms of depression and anxiety at age 18-19 between students (including those at university and other higher education institutions) and non-students.
This association persisted after adjustment for potentially confounding factors including, among others, socioeconomic status, parents’ education, and alcohol use.
The analysis suggests that if the potential mental health risks of attending higher education were eliminated, the incidence of depression and anxiety could potentially be reduced by 6% among people aged 18-19.
First author Dr Tayla McCloud (UCL Psychiatry) said: “Based on our findings, we cannot say why students might be more at risk of depression and anxiety than their peers, but it could be related to academic or financial pressure. This increased risk among students has not been found in studies in the past, so if the association has only recently emerged, it may be related to increased financial pressures and worries about achieving high results in the wider economic and social context.
“We would have expected higher education students to have better mental health than their non-student peers as they tend to be from more privileged backgrounds on average, so these results are particularly concerning. More research is needed to clarify the mental health risks facing students.
“Improving our understanding of modifiable risk factors for depression and anxiety is a global health priority, and it is clear that supporting the mental health of our young people is vitally important.”
The study was commissioned and funded by England’s Department for Education.
Notes to editors
For more information or to speak to the researchers involved, please contact Chris Lane, UCL Media Relations. T: +44 (0)20 7679 9222 / +44 (0)7717 728 648, E: chris.lane@ucl.ac.uk
Dr Tayla McCloud; Mr Strahil Kamenov; Prof Claire Callender; Prof Glyn Lewis; Dr Gemma Lewis, ‘The association between higher education attendance and common mental health problems among young people in England: evidence from two population-based cohorts’ will be published in The Lancet Public Health on Thursday 28 September 2023, 23:30 UK time / 18:30 US Eastern time and is under a strict embargo until this time.
The paper will be published at https://www.thelancet.com/jour
Mental health and wellbeing support for UCL students:
- Prevention is a key competent to mental health and wellbeing support at UCL with a year-round events programme, including workshops on perfectionism, imposter syndrome, importance of sleep and personal safety and activities such as sunrise walks, meditation, laugher workshops and many more, equipping students with the tools to manage their own mental health and wellbeing throughout the evitable highs and lows of student life.
- All undergraduate first-years are assigned a Student Adviser. Student Advisers sit within the academic department and offer 1-2-1 support for students, to help transition into university life and offer support for wellbeing or student experience matters.
- All UCL students can access up to six free sessions of counselling through our Student Psychological and Counselling Services.
- UCL offers 24/7 free, confidential counselling services in over 35 languages, accessed via UCL’s 24/7 Student Support Line. Students can speak to an adviser who can help through any issues, including but not limited to feeling anxious or stressed, money worries, cultural differences, homesickness, addiction, relationship difficulties, bereavement, bullying, harassment and/or sexual harassment – anything impacting mental health, wellbeing or time at UCL.
- The advisers reflect the diverse range of backgrounds needed from our students, with options to speak to a male/female adviser, a BAME adviser or an adviser with additional training in LGBTQ+ related issues.
- Current students can also make a same day appointment with UCL’s Support and Wellbeing Team by askUCL or phoning the team directly on +44 (0) 20 3108 8836.
- More information on our support and wellbeing services available for students: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students
/support-and-wellbeing - Report + Support is UCL’s online tool for current and former students and staff to report bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct, and it includes the option to report anonymously or on the record.
- UCL is one of five universities nationally that qualified for the University Mental Health Charter Award which recognises its commitment to continuous improvement in mental health and wellbeing.
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