Life at university, it seems, is not as cool as many students think it might be. And, with record numbers of students beginning university this term, there are warnings of rising numbers of students struggling to cope with life on campus, with sharp rises in the demand for counselling. 
Making this big emotional step to a new independent life, with many students living away from home for the first time, has raised questions about whether universities are providing enough support for emotional and mental health problems.
According to the BBC, Ruth Caleb, chair of Universities UK’s mental well-being working group, counselling services at universities are facing an annual rise in demand of about 10%.
She estimates the use of counselling usually ranges between 5% and 10% of students, depending on the university, which would suggest at least 115,000 students are seeking help.
Sir Anthony Seldon, vice chancellor of Buckingham University, said universities have been ‘negligent’ in accepting their pastoral responsibilities.
“Universities are not always honest about admitting the extent of the problems they have. They need to change. They need to take their responsibilities to students far more carefully,” he is reported as saying.
Reacting to the report, the University of Reading said there had been a 20% year-on-year increase in students wanting help from counsellors. The university’s head of well-being, Alicia Pena Bizama, said students feel under more pressure.
A report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, found a rapid increase in demand for counselling, with one institution seeing an annual increase of more than 50%.
This analysis, published before the new term, showed mental health problems on campus had ‘increased dramatically’ in recent years, rising from about 8,000 to 18,000 in the four years to 2012-13.
But it also warned students want help with more serious problems. Instead of homesickness or relationships, they are increasingly suffering from ‘anxiety, depression or low mood. Additionally, increasing numbers of students are at high risk of harming themselves’.
Hypnotherapy with its proven success rate in dealing with stress, anxiety and similar issues, can also be a help in these instances.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy, with more than 1800 trained and experienced independent therapists on its nationwide directory, is the biggest not-for-profit professional organisation in the UK.
These hypnotherapists offer the highest possible quality of treatment and are eminently able to help clients cope with the stress and anxiety the demands of society place upon us.
The NCH says: “Today, about one in seven people are suffering from stress or anxiety at any one time in the UK. And while some people manage, more and more people are showing signs of over-anxiety, which leads to stress, which can make a significant impact on the quality of life and wellbeing.”
After sessions with a hypnotherapist, a person suffering from anxiety, stress or depression may feel more confident; more relaxed in situations that have been challenging or disturbing.
Many people say that they are calmer and that they have more clarity of thought – able to make decisions more easily.
If you are in this type of situation, look up an NCH-registered therapist near you by using the NCH directory. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain.
Universities UK says it issued guidance this year to all universities on how to support students with mental health problems.
“Universities take student mental health very seriously. For some students, an unfamiliar higher education environment can be stressful, particularly for those who already have an underlying illness,” says chief executive Nicola Dandridge.
“Some students are reluctant to disclose their difficulties, which can also present a challenge for universities seeking to support them. However, the development of policies and anti-stigma campaigns is now beginning to address both these issues.”