Three years later, Imogen (a pseudonym) still feels betrayed. Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, she was referred to university counseling multiple times—but instead of finding relief, she says the experience left her worse off.
“I felt like I was being passed between services, like no one wanted me and no one could help,” she recalls.
Leacsaidh, another student at the University of Nottingham diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at 17, describes campus mental health support as “one-size-fits-all.” When she sought help for self-harm, she says she was merely given website links.
Nottingham is far from alone. Jana, an international student at King’s College London (KCL) diagnosed with anxiety by a university GP, qualified for academic adjustments but found the process of securing them “painful.” Deadline extension requests, she says, were delayed by clerical errors, worsening her stress during an already tough period. KCL did not respond to requests for comment.
With young people reporting mental health issues on the rise, such problems could escalate.
The University of Nottingham notes it has invested in specialist wellbeing services in recent years. A spokesperson encourages students to share concerns but emphasizes: “University services support wellbeing, not replace clinical NHS care for serious or complex needs.”
This raises critical questions: Are universities letting students down, or is the pressure on them part of the problem? And how much responsibility should universities truly bear?
Student mental health gained public attention in 2018 after Natasha Abrahart, a University of Bristol physics student, died by suicide. Between 2016 and 2018, 10 others at the university are believed to have taken their own lives.
Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows the number of students with mental health conditions nearly quadrupled in the decade to 2023-24, reaching 122,430 (out of 2.9 million total students) before a slight dip last year. Most were undergraduates, and the majority were women.
Dr. Sandi Mann, a senior psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, points out that late adolescence (18-21) is the “peak age” for conditions like OCD, anxiety, and depression. Combined with academic stress, newfound independence, and part-time work, this creates “prime conditions” for mental health struggles. She also notes concerns about young people’s resilience in coping with daily stress, though she clarifies this excludes severe illnesses.
Experts debate whether societal focus on mental health is overpathologizing normal distress. American psychologist Ben Locke argues assessment tools often conflate common human struggles with mental health issues, leading to unnecessary referrals.
But Dr. Sarah Sweeney, incoming chair of student services organization Amosshe, says open dialogue has reduced stigma—though more education is needed to distinguish “mental health challenges” from diagnosed illnesses.
Personal tutors, often academics, are frequently students’ first point of contact for mental health issues. But Dr. Mann stresses they are not mental health professionals, with roles limited to signposting and referrals.
A senior humanities lecturer at the University of Manchester, speaking anonymously, describes tutor training as minimal: a “handbook of academic advising” and generic PowerPoint slides. Tutors often first notice issues during casual chats about missed deadlines, unaware they’re “intervening in a mental health crisis.”
“It’s grim,” they say. “It’s gone from a serious problem to a major crisis… People are swamped.”
The University of Manchester says staff receive ongoing mental health training from nurses, with clear escalation routes. It adds investment in student wellbeing has risen significantly.
Students also struggle with navigating complex, fragmented services. After speaking to a tutor, they may meet with a wellbeing team for stress management advice, then be referred to disability services or counseling. Those at risk of self-harm or harm to others are escalated further—but “people can slip through the gaps,” students warn.
Universities insist they are stepping up: Nottingham highlights expanded specialist services, while Manchester cites increased funding. Yet as demand surges, the debate continues: Are universities failing students, or is society placing unrealistic expectations on them?
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