The invisible problem? Improving students’ mental health

There are also certain illnesses that the student population is
particularly vulnerable to developing because they are typically
young adults.
Conditions which students are prone to developing
••
Anxiety and depression: students are at risk of anxiety
and depression due to stress stemming from a range of
academic and social pressures combined with being away
from home and established support.
••
Bipolar disorder: research suggests that those with
excellent school performance have as much as a fourfold
increased risk of developing bipolar disorder compared to
those with average grades. 28
••
Eating disorders: eating disorders occur more frequently
in higher socioeconomic groups and have a peak age of
onset in adolescence, meaning undergraduates are likely
to be particularly vulnerable. 29 Females are more likely to
suffer than males. 30 There are significantly more females
than males in higher education. 31
• • Hazardous drinking: although not a mental illness, high
alcohol consumption has long been a feature of student
life. It is a common side effect of feelings of stress, anxiety
and depression, and can also reinforce these feelings.
18 The invisible problem? Improving students’ mental health