Students use mental health services more

More than 43,000 students had counselling at Russell Group institutions in 2014/15, new figures revealed – compared to 34,000 three years earlier.

The 28 per cent jump coincides with the trebling of tuition fees to £9,000.

Stephen Buckley from the mental health charity Mind said that tuition fee and student loan debt were “major contributors” to the rise in students seeking mental health help.

Commenting on the findings, he said: “Today’s students face an unprecedented financial burden with student loan and tuition fee debt higher than ever before.

“On the other side of this is the financial stress and uncertainty around employment on graduation.

“Both of these are major 
contributors to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.”

It was “unlikely” that the rise simply reflected greater openness around mental health, he added.