What is the biggest health issue facing university students?

One of the biggest health issues facing university students at the moment is mental health problems. According to a 2022 survey by the mental health charity Student Minds, 57% of students surveyed self-reported a mental health issue and 27% said they had a diagnosed mental health condition. Four years later, this has increased further.

The most common mental health problems for students are:

• Anxiety • Depression • Burnout and stress • Loneliness • Sleep issues

People don’t always come to university with mental health problems; there can be different factors as to why people begin experiencing issues such as anxiety and depression. So, let’s explore why these mental health related issues are on the rise.

Common issues students face that affect their health and wellbeing

Alcohol and Drug Use

It is common for university students to engage in more out-of-routine behaviours such as substance use. Using substances, such as alcohol or drugs, is seen as a social interaction. A study conducted by Mark Tarrant in 2019 showed that excessive alcohol use was ‘normalised’ within the university culture and how people often socialised within evenings. Substances can in fact impair a person’s physical and mental health without the person realising.

Alcohol and drugs have different effects on a person, yet ultimately, they all impair the brain’s neurotransmitters. This impairment slows down brain activity, impacts coordination and disrupts a person’s judgement and decision making in the moment. Afterwards, there are also effects – it can lead to low mood and anxiety, for someone to feel unmotivated (which can lead to not attending classes or placements), and memory issues, alongside other side effects.

Some people use alcohol and drugs as a way of coping with their mental health issues or giving them confidence in social situations, however the negative effects certainly outweigh the in-the-moment positives of substance use.

Read: Top activities that don’t involve drinking

Poor Nutrition

It can be common for students to struggle to take care of themselves nutritionally. This can link in with the use of alcohol and drugs, as seeking fast food for comfort after using these substances is common. Making unhealthy nutritional decisions can also be linked to other reasons such as limited understanding of what is healthy or unhealthy, not knowing how to cook or, when someone is experiencing stress and low mood, seeking the easier option of an unhealthy diet. Yet a poor diet that contains a lot of processed foods and sugars is linked to the increased risk of anxiety and depression due to nutritional deficiencies of vital vitamins our bodies need to function well.

Patterns of eating can also contribute to poor nutrition and poor health decisions. More often with busy schedules of study and social events, students can often skip important meals or opt to eat later which can have an effect on a person’s weight and health.

Poor Physical Health

Stress, anxiety and low mood can certainly impact someone’s motivation to take care of themselves physically. University students may have a more sedentary lifestyle, spending long periods of time sat in classrooms and ultimately not moving or being active. Being less active can impact a person’s mental health due to the reduction of the feel-good hormones such as endorphins which are released when we exercise. This leads to a less healthy lifestyle and may also encourage a person to become less motivated to make changes.

Stress and mental health conditions can also create issues around sleep. Sleep reduction is one of the most commonly reported side effects of stress, anxiety or depression. This could be because a person cannot sleep due to worry, they have created unhealthy routines (such as sleeping during the day), or simply because they have a poor sleep hygiene routine. If someone experiences high stress or lack of sleep for a long period of time this can cause a lower immune system which makes the person more susceptible to illnesses.

Watch: Boosting wellbeing through movement

Sexual Health

It can be common for students to be unaware of the sexual health support that they have access to. Whether this is for contraception, STI support or birth control, students have a wide network of support around them they can access and receive support for. Having the worry of poor sexual health or concerns of getting pregnant can understandably cause a lot of worry and stress to students which is why it is important to speak to your local sexual health clinic or your GP for support.

Academic Pressure

When people come to university, they may be shocked by the amount of academic work involved. Attending lectures or placements, completing written assignments, alongside normal stressors such as family, friends and work. It is important that students attend lectures, so they have the material needed to complete the assigned work, and it is also important that students plan their study time. Knowing what you need to prioritise and when to complete each assignment will certainly allow structure which can help reduce the anxiety around assignment deadlines.

Read: How to deal with coursework anxiety

Financial Insecurity and Cost of Living Pressures

In 2026, we are all experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, which complicates our finances. When students arrive to university, each person has their individual financial plan, whether this is family financial support, student finance or working to support themselves. Learning to live on a budget can be difficult, especially when there is an expectation to buy academic materials, travel to and from university or even support a family (as some students will have children or caring responsibilities). It is important that you plan your finances, know where you stand, and if you become concerned, speak to the university finance team for additional guidance and support.

Social Transitions and Loneliness

The transition to university is a challenging time. Students may have left home for the first time, moved from their normal social circle or even moved country to attend university. While this can create a lot of anxiety and uncertainty on arrival, please remember you are not the only person experiencing this. Creating new friendships as adults can be more challenging, yet it is important that you are open to new social interactions, whether this is through speaking to people on your course, attending social events at the university or even joining societies the university offer to help you meet likeminded individuals.

How do these factors affect student health and wellbeing

Increase in stress, anxiety and depression can show in different behaviours including:

*** Reduced concentration and productivity: students can struggle to focus on their studies and feel less inclined to complete work. *** More missed classes: students can lose the motivation to attend classes or worry about being behind with assignments so avoid attending classes. *** Difficulty meeting deadlines:** students can unintentionally struggle to complete work in sufficient time which creates more stress. *** Dropout risks:** students can feel they are not confident or incompetent enough to complete the work or course and turn to leaving university. *** Strain on relationships and personal development: **students can feel less inclined to socialise, speak to family or work on their own development.

How can students help their mental health?

Build resilience

Understand that university is hard work, and it takes time and effort to ensure that deadlines are met. Understand that if mistakes are made, this can be seen as a learning opportunity to make different choices moving forward. Improving mental fitness can help build resilience by developing positive coping mechanisms such as mindfulness, breathwork and taking personal accountability.

Time management

Understanding that managing your time is key is crucial. Schedule when assignments and work are due and the timeframe you have to complete the work. Use a written diary or the calendar in your phone, and you can even set reminders on your phone of what stage of studying or writing assignments should be focused on next. Managing your time and keeping to a study schedule will help reduce the stress of deadlines and encourage you to hand work in on time.

Routine

Routine can be very important, especially if you are struggling mentally. It is common for people to stop doing their normal routines and lose the motivation to continue doing everyday activities such as personal hygiene, exercise or even making nutritional meals for themselves. Action creates motivation; it is really important that despite how unmotivated you feel, you still make and complete daily goals as this will create a positive loop within the brain and encourage you to keep moving forward. You can make the goals smaller so they feel more manageable, for example if you used to attend the gym yet feel this is difficult, you could go for a walk to ensure you are still reaching the targets set.

Sleep Hygiene

Sleep is very important when you are managing university. Students are taking in a lot of new information, experiences and social situations, therefore ensuring that you have enough rest will allow you to meet these expectations. When we talk about sleep hygiene, this actually starts well before jumping into bed to sleep. We would encourage you to ‘wind down’ well before going to bed, so including a routine at nighttime can be important. Below can be an example of what a healthy sleep routine can look like:

9pm: Shower/bathe to physically relax the body.

9:20pm: Fresh pyjamas and self-care activities.

9:30pm: Listen to a positive podcast or something relaxing (avoiding technology or blue light from this time).

10pm: Journal any thoughts coming up to help ‘empty’ your mind before bed, read a book (which can naturally make you feel tired), or listen to a sleep meditation.

10:30pm: Sleep.

Social Support

As humans we are naturally social, and we thrive from positive interactions. It can be difficult being in a new environment such as university and making new friends, yet it is important to try. Building positive support networks makes you feel more confident, positive and supported.

Financial Budgeting

Being clear of what your budget is before starting university is vital. This can be achieved in different forms through budget planning, money apps or even asking family for support around this. Work out what you need for your bills either weekly or monthly, what you need for resources for university such as travel or supplies, and then what you have to spend on yourself either for treats or social events. Sticking to a budget will help you to feel more in control and less stressed about finances, which can help your mental health massively.

Seek Support Early

Often, people avoid talking about their mental health, whether this is with friends, family or professionals. It is important to remember that seeking support early about your mental health, or specific concerns such as social isolation or financial worries, can help to solve the problem quickly, help you to feel less alone when managing the problem and help you feel in control that you are seeking to resolve the issue rather than avoid dealing with it.

There are different areas and organisations from which you can access support, such as:

• The Wellbeing Team at the University • Your GP • Student Assistance Programme • Friends and family • StepChange Debt Charity for financial support

What can universities do to help students?

Improved access to counselling and mental health services is crucial – a lot of universities now offer a wellbeing team within their institutes for students to access support within the university alongside offering a service to speak to a counsellor.

Universities can also offer safe spaces where students can use these when they feel they need a space to either help themselves with some quiet space, or to access support from staff who understand the broad range of mental health needs of students.

It is important that universities train staff to understand the signs of mental and emotional distress, and what to do when this happens to ensure that students are being supported in the moment to provide early intervention which can prevent students from reaching ‘crisis’.

It is also important for universities to promote what a healthy lifestyle should include – they can do this by offering access to affordable facilities such as a gym and sports clubs. They can ensure that healthy food is accessible and affordable for students, whilst sharing why nutritional food is important within the cafeteria areas. Then also ensuring that mental health is spoken about and support is available to students when this is needed.

Universities can normalise talking about mental health. This can be done by actively creating a space where discussing mental health struggles is not seen as a weakness yet something that everyone can experience. Tutors and other staff should discuss the importance of wellbeing and mental health and model behaviours to students that promote healthy steps to caring for their own mental health.

Universities could create peer support groups, which will allow likeminded students to be able to support one another in the moment if needed. This will also encourage social interaction between students.

How can a Student Assistance Programme support a student's health?

Wellbeing programmes such as ours, are designed to offer safe environments for students to access, where they can express any concerns, worries or mental health struggles they may be experiencing. Wellbeing programmes also promote mental health awareness, helping students to understand the importance that they also take responsibility for their own wellbeing, help build resilience and confidence. Our student assistance programme here at HA | Wisdom Wellbeing provides individuals with 24/7, 365-day access to in-the-moment support, and when deemed clinically appropriate, structured counselling support to help individuals struggling with a mental health concern. Students can also benefit from financial information and coaching – as we recognise this can be a huge hurdle during student life, as well as provide mental health and physical wellbeing solutions through our app Wisdom.