Going into the final term of the year is a stressful time for students and Leeds-based charity Student Minds are well-aware of the additional pressure that the build-up to the end of the academic year brings.
Student Minds believes that no student should be held back by their mental health. The organisation advocates for university students nationwide and empowers them with the skills to manage the stresses and uncertainties of being a student.
1 in 3 students surveyed by Student Minds have experienced poor mental health, with those from minority communities being at the greatest risk. The Health Lottery Foundation have donated £15,000 to Student Minds. This will allow them to pilot a new project to train student leaders from racialised communities to take action to address health inequalities on their campus, and improve their community’s wellbeing.
Kate Mitchell, Fundraising & Development Manager said,
“We improve university communities and challenge the higher education sector, health sector, and government to make student mental health a priority. We empower students to make their own mental health toolkit to support themselves and their peers through university life and beyond. We’ve made great strides and we’re immensely proud of our achievements to date. However, there is still a lot to do. Over the next few years, we want to take students into decision-making spaces and empower them to create local and national change. We’re energised to get going with this work!”
Working with students since 2011
There are 2.9 million students in the UK and almost 50% of young people enter higher education. Student Minds state that one in four students report having a diagnosed mental health issue while at university.
A student lifestyle brings academic challenges, financial pressure and loneliness, which can affect students’ wellbeing. Navigating identity and discrimination can make student life even tougher.
Research shows there are substantial barriers preventing students from getting the support that they need. One quarter of students don’t know where to get mental health support at university (Student Minds, 2022). Both universities and the NHS are struggling to meet demand with insufficient resources, leading to long waiting times. Health inequalities also further prevent students from receiving support. Black and Asian students are the least likely demographic to seek advice about poor mental health (Cibyl, 2022).
£15K from Health Lottery players to support students from racialised communities
Later this year, with funding from The Health Lottery Foundation, a new pilot project will work to specifically target students from racialised backgrounds. Working with three universities, Student Minds will provide students’ union officers and student leaders with the confidence and skills necessary to speak up on behalf of their peers and encourage their institutions to take mental health seriously. They will support these students to build a mental health toolkit to protect their own wellbeing, and to offer peer support to one another.
Their approach combines prevention and early-intervention with ensuring speedy emergency help is available to all those in crisis.
Two students talk outside a house.
Kate explains,
“Empowering students to advocate for themselves is necessary to create effective change. Students’ unions provide a structure for amplifying underrepresented voices, but the right training and support is needed. This project will fill that gap. We can’t wait to start working with the students and see the difference they’re able to make on their campuses.”
We were impressed by the fact that Student Minds trains young people to support others and to be more resilient themselves. Once the pilot is up and running, we will report back.
If you would like to know more about how Student Minds support mental health, visit their website and follow them on social media.
Website: www.studentminds.org.uk
Facebook: @studentminds.org.uk
Instagram: @studentmindsorg
LinkedIn: @studentmindsorg
Blue Sky: @studentmindsorg.bsky.social