A study of the health and wellbeing of undergraduate students in Australia has found significant levels of mental health issues, pointing to the need for improved service and connection to address attrition and student wellbeing.
The Uni Student Wellbeing survey received responses from 7,725 undergraduate students from eight institutions in its first year, in a study led by University of Melbourne Professor Chi Baik.
The study found that 28% of all students reported high levels of distress and 30% low wellbeing – with 15% reporting both. Those reporting both were classified as having poor mental health and wellbeing.
Just over half of these students (54%) were not receiving treatment or therapy from a health professional.
Only one third of students with poor mental health and wellbeing said they had the information they needed (34%) and around two in five (43%) reported having access to support services they trusted.
Students with poor mental health and wellbeing were at higher risk of dropping out, with 50% rating the quality of their university experience so far as poor or fair, compared to 26% of students overall.
The fact that a quarter of students overall rated their university experience as poor or fair is also cause for concern. Just over a third of students were reported as having high wellbeing.
Professor Baik will present insights from the research at HE FEST tomorrow.