New study in Wales urges tailored mental health support for university students

A new study from Wolfson Centre researchers based at Swansea University calls for customised mental health services to address the specific needs of university students in Wales.

The newly published study titled "Trends in Incidence of Self-Harm, Neurodevelopmental, and Mental Health Conditions Among University Students Compared to the General Population: A Nationwide Electronic Data Linkage Study in Wales," was led by Professor Ann John and Dr Olivier Y. Rouquette.

The study examines mental health trends in university students and compares them to their non-student peers in Wales, offering valuable insights into rising concerns about self-harm, mental health disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions within student populations.

By using electronic health records and linking data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) with the SAIL databank , the research focused on nearly 97,000 undergraduates enrolled between 2012 and 2018, aged 18 to 24 at entry. These students were compared with over 151,000 non-students of similar age, sex, and socioeconomic background.

Despite the perception that university students are struggling more with mental health, the findings reveal that students generally fare better in terms of mental health than their non-student peers. However, certain issues such as ADHD, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and alcohol misuse are present at similar levels in both groups. Alarmingly, the rates of self-harm, depression, neurodevelopmental conditions, schizophrenia, and alcohol abuse have seen a sharper increase among students.

The research points to a range of factors that may contribute to the rise in mental health concerns, including the pressures of university life, financial stress, and the challenges of transitioning to higher education. First-year students showed a heightened risk of alcohol misuse. Additionally, students with pre-existing mental health conditions, such as ADHD, anxiety, or a history of self-harm, were more likely to leave university prematurely. The study also found that older students entering university were at greater risk of self-harm and mental health conditions compared to their younger counterparts.

Professor Ann John said: “These findings highlight the complexity and diversity of mental health needs within university settings, underscoring the necessity for tailored support services. Developing integrated, multi-disciplinary mental health programmes within universities, incorporating everything from initial screening and well-being support to counselling and professional mental health referrals, is vital”.

This study lays the groundwork for further exploration and the design of mental health initiatives specifically geared towards students, particularly as the demand for higher education in Wales continues to grow.

The paper “Trends in incidence of self-harm, neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions among university students compared with the general population: nationwide electronic data linkage study in Wales” is published online by Cambridge University Press in Psychological Medicine.