student stress
by Wendy Moore
Being a student can be the most exhilarating time of your life. New friends, new places, new challenges can all add up to a huge buzz. But all those things can also make student life seem a total nightmare.
Most students will feel the effects of stress at some point in their studies and a small number of students may feel stressed or depressed for a lot of the time.
campus survival
© www.johnbirdsall.co.uk
For Rachael Tooth, worries about coursework and money combined to cause severe stress at the beginning of the third year of her degree in journalism at Cardiff University. Money is a bugbear for many students, she points out. 'It is what everybody worries about,' says Rachael, who was working from 7.30pm until 2.30am twice a week in the students' union to help make ends meet.
Luckily Rachael, who has been diagnosed with manic depression, was taken by friends to the university counselling service where trained counsellors referred her for medical care and helped her sort out her life. She took a year out of her course 'to cool off', finished her degree with a 2:1 two years ago, and is now about to take up a job with the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Most students will find, like Rachael, that with a bit of help from your friends – and lots of other people ready to offer practical support and professional advice – you can survive college life. Here we explore the reality of student stress and ways to cope.
textbook stress
There is no doubt that university life can get stressful. More than half of students (53%) said they had become more stressed since starting university, according to the Student Living Report 2002, an ongoing survey of student experiences carried out by MORI for the UNITE Group plc.
Students in the survey pinpointed the five worst aspects of university life as:
- too little money
- being in debt
- juggling university work with other commitments
- no regular income
- too much time spent studying.
Verity Coyle, welfare officer of the National Union of Students, believes student stress has got worse over the years. 'Stress is an increasing problem for students,' she says. She blames financial hardship as the main cause of rising stress.
Student counselling services have also seen a rise in the proportion of clients with 'severe' problems in the last few years, according to the Annual Survey of Counselling in Further and Higher Education 1999/00, published by the Association of University and College Counselling in 2001. This increase has been sharpest in higher education colleges. Now more than half of students seeking counselling in HE colleges are categorised as 'severe' or worse than severe.
It is not all bleak. The vast majority of students (96%) in the UNITE survey still considered university a 'worthwhile experience'. The survey found that 88% of students were 'happy' with life and 86% had an optimistic outlook for the future.
what causes student stress?
Feeling stressed is a normal reaction to a situation which feels out of your control or overwhelming. Any problem can cause stress but students do face particular worries which load on the pressure. Some of the main reasons blamed for student stress are:
- financial worries
- debt
- exam pressure
- burden of coursework
- relationship problems.
Ann Heyno, media spokesperson for the Heads of University Counselling Services (HUCS), says: 'There is an awful lot of pressure on students these days to succeed and do extremely well, especially because they have invested a lot of money in their education and so they feel they have to do incredibly well.'
HUCS offers a comprehensive guide to dealing with a myriad of problems which can face students on its student counselling website www.studentcounselling.org. The guide can signpost you to practical help and resources on issues ranging from anxiety to self-esteem. Almost every UK university and college has its own on-site counselling service where professionally-trained counsellors can help you talk through and manage any problem which is causing you stress. Most counselling services advertise themselves to students as they start college. If you have any difficulty, you should be able to contact the service through your student union office. Sometimes there may be a wait for a first appointment to see a counsellor. If you do have to wait you could always talk to friends, family or your own doctor in the meantime.
We take a look at coping with some of the commonest problems which stress students.
freshers
Your first few weeks at college or university are a huge challenge. You are embarking on a major transition.
If you have just left school, you are dealing with leaving your family, home and friends and living independently for the first time. It may also be the first time you have had to run your own finances, practise housekeeping and get to know a new town.
Mature students may have to cope with juggling studying with family responsibilities and having less money. Just about everyone will be trying to make new friends, find their way around and – importantly – knuckle down to coursework.
'It is a big challenge for people when they first go to university,' says NUS welfare officer Verity Coyle. 'It may be a first taste of freedom and a first time away from parental influence.'
The most important thing to remember, she says, is that all students are in the same boat. Everyone is trying to make new friends, find their way around and cope with the unknown. Her main tip is that time-honoured advice to join a club or society.
Local student unions run many groups and events catering for different interests – not just socials in the bar. Universities themselves also put on special events so that students can get to know each other. Teaming up with other students on your own course or in your halls of residence to get to know the area is also a good idea. But don't try to do too much too soon. You could find you have so much on your plate that you cannot manage your coursework. And make sure you don't burn all your boats – keep in touch with friends and family at home as well as spending time with new mates.
The University of Cambridge offers some useful tips for freshers on its website at www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/fresher.html. A booklet published by Mind, How To … Cope with the Stress of Student Life, provides a good starting point for new students. It is also available in PDF format from the Mind website (see help and info).
money
Counting the pennies has always been a fact of student life. But recent Government changes to financial support for students have been blamed for increasing student stress.
Students leaving university or college in 2002 have to pay back an average debt of £10,000 according to NatWest bank's Annual Money Matters Survey for 2002. Christopher Butler, head of counselling at the Royal Holloway University of London, says: 'When you leave with that much debt I think it puts much more pressure on you to get a good degree and a good job.'
Under current rules, all students are assessed for a contribution towards their tuition fees and their living costs. The Government estimates that one third of students pay the full tuition fees, one third pay some and one third pay nothing. Student grants were phased out from 1998 and replaced by student loans. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, student loans have since been abolished and grants reintroduced but they remain in place in England.
You can find out more about student finances, budgeting and advice on the NUS website www.nusonline.co.uk.
The latest NUS research, the 1999 NUS Student Hardship Survey, found that after paying for accommodation students living away from home outside London were left with just £23.30 a week to cover bills, food, clothes, books and travel.
The Student Living Report 2002 found one in four students were experiencing serious financial trouble. Students began the academic year in September 2001 with an average £4,203 debt, the survey reported. To make ends meet, nearly half (43%) worked part-time during term-time and 59% of those who worked believed it interfered with their studies.
'A far greater proportion of students are working, so generally they have less time, which makes studying difficult,' says Christopher Butler.
Juggling funds, when you also want to enjoy college life and keep up with what's going on, is tricky. Nearly every college or university has a specialist finance advice service which can offer guidance if you get into trouble. It is possible to obtain hardship grants to help out in certain circumstances. Mature students with dependants, on a low income, are entitled to a non-repayable Access Bursary of £500 from their college. Other students in financial hardship can apply to their college 'hardship fund' for non-repayable help, although the fund is limited. You can always approach your tutor, union office, student advisor/welfare officer to discuss money worries and the student counselling service for other concerns.
Many colleges now provide part-time work on the campus for their own students as a way of monitoring hours worked. The NUS recommends a limit of 10 hours a week for full-time students. Working beyond this can adversely affect your attendance, coursework and exam performance, the union warns.
NatWest offers tips on managing student finances and also financial advice on leaving college or university on its website at www.natwest.com/personal/services/student/index.asp?navid=PERSONAL/ACCOUNTS_SERVICES/STUDENT.
It is also good to remember, that although student life can be financially very hard, you will benefit in the long term. People in their 20s with a degree or equivalent, earn nearly 43% more than their peers without similar qualifications – more than £6,000 extra – and this difference increases with age.
relationships
Beginning university or college life can mean leaving behind close friends and family, which can cause sadness and tension. If you are an international student this is particularly acute. At the same time, you will be making new friends, perhaps gaining sexual independence for the first time, and this too has its ups and downs.
Financial hardship means that most students rely on their families for extra support. A total 87% of students receive some financial help from their parents, guardian, partner or other family member, according to the Student Living Report 2002. Nearly half (44%) said this caused friction. One fifth (22%) of students live with parents or guardian.
Relationship problems are a common concern among students seeking counselling, according to Ann Heyno. 'An awful lot of students are having to live at home to go to university,' she says. 'Even if you have got enough money, if you are dependent on your parents for money that is quite hard.'
Family dynamics can be difficult. 'Some parents have invested a lot in their children succeeding and students worry they are not going to meet parental expectations,' says Heyno, who heads the counselling service at the University of Westminster. 'Sometimes it is the opposite, where parents are not interested and not supportive enough, and that is equally hard really.'
There may also be upsets at home which can make you feel cut off. Some parents wait until children have left the nest before splitting up, says Heyno. 'It is about the worst possible time in a way. For your home to leave you, as you are leaving it, is very difficult.'
A bereavement at home is also hard to cope with when you are far away. Mature students may be going through their own domestic difficulties, like divorce. Most universities, however, are very sympathetic to students taking time out to cope with problems at home, says NUS welfare officer Verity Coyle.
'You have to talk to them first, and not just disappear,' she says. It is usually possible to take several months or even a year out, to postpone assignments or resit exams, so long as you seek permission in advance.
Relationships among your new-found friends and partners will also bring their stresses, just like anywhere, but feeling isolated can intensify this. Talking to someone – whether a friend, family member, tutor or professional counsellor – is the key to handling most problems.
exams and coursework
Managing coursework and preparing for exams are stressful for every student, but some cope better than others. Most colleges and universities run study skills courses at the start of the academic year to help you pace your coursework and organise your studies effectively. Most also have study skills advisors available at any time to talk about coursework difficulties. It is a good idea to find out what help is around on your campus before you get into difficulties.
Find out about handling exam stresses in our feature coping with exams. Mind (see help and info) produces a useful booklet called How To … Cope with Exam Stress. There is also some imaginative advice about managing exams on the Hero (Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK) website at www.hero.ac.uk/studying/archive/just_remember_this1429.cfm.
dropping out
Inevitably there may come times when you feel the strain of student life is all too much and consider dropping out. This may be right at the start of your course, if you feel you have chosen the wrong topic, wrong university or simply don't think you are suited to college life. A total 82% of students who drop out are first years and most of those leave in the first term, according to research carried out at the University of Westminster.
'The first six weeks are crucial,' says Ann Heyno. 'If people don't feel at home at university in the first six weeks they are much more likely to withdraw and drop out.'
If you are having second thoughts or just feel something is wrong at any stage, don't rush into leaving. Take time to consider your options and talk it over. Counselling services are keen to talk to you before you walk away. You might also want to talk to your tutor about changing courses or even colleges.
suicidal thoughts
When pressure becomes overwhelming and there seems no way out, suicide might seem like an answer. Latest figures show that from 1983 to 1994, student suicides rose from 2.4 per 100,000 to 9.7 or about 1 in 10,000. The increase mirrors a rise in suicides among young men, who have the highest suicide rates in the UK, according to official statistics.
Although talking about suicidal thoughts is the best way to start tackling your problems, suicide is still a taboo subject. Campus counselling services, however, are always willing to discuss such feelings.
'Certainly more and more students are coming forward expressing suicidal thoughts,' says Ann Heyno. 'We take it very, very seriously.'
If you feel suicidal, there are lots of ways to get help. Your campus counselling service offers a listening ear and can refer you to a doctor, who may prescribe medication which could help you over a difficult patch. You might prefer to talk to your own doctor, your tutor, family or friends. Many colleges also operate a student-run helpline, called Nightline. You can find the number from your student union office.
The HUCS student counselling website www.studentcounselling.org has some useful links offering advice. The University of Loughborough site, www.lboro.ac.uk/service/counselling/pages/problems/suicidal.html, is particularly good for helping deal with a suicidal friend.
You can find out more about depression and suicidal feelings in our mind section at suicidal feelings and depression.
how talking helps
It sounds trite, but it is also true, that a problem shared is at least a problem reduced. Just talking to friends or family can often put your troubles in perspective. If this doesn't help, or you don't want to approach loved ones, a trained counsellor can offer professional help. Counselling has been shown in studies to be effective in tackling stress.
University and college counselling services have trained counsellors ready to hear your problems. Typically they will offer you one or two sessions to assess what's wrong then several more sessions to talk it through. Sometimes this is mainly a question of helping you look at your problems more realistically. Some counsellors use cognitive behavioural techniques to help you think more positively (for more information see the mind feature, cognitive behaviour therapy). For more deep-seated problems, it may be necessary to talk about your earlier life. If the counsellors feel you need additional help, they may refer you to a doctor.
'There is an awful lot of help out there when people start to suffer from stress,' says Verity Coyle. 'The thing to do is to ask for help.'
help and info
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites.
organisations
CALM: Campaign against living miserably
Freephone: 0800 58 58 58 (Every day 5pm-3am)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Confidential, anonymous freephone helpline aimed at young men aged 15-35 living in Manchester, Merseyside, Cumbria and Bedfordshire who may be feeling low or depressed. Offers telephone counselling and information about other sources of help locally.
Mind (National Association for Mental Health)
15-19 Broadway
London E15 4BQ
Tel: 020 8519 2122
Mind Infoline: 0845 766 0163 (Mon-Fri 9.15am-4.15pm)
E-mail: contact@mind.org.uk
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Campaigns for better mental health services in England and Wales, through its national office, regional offices and network of over 200 local branches, some of which also provide services. Publishes a range of helpful books and leaflets. Contact them for details of your nearest local group and for more information.
Samaritans
c/o Chris
PO Box 90 90
Stirling FK8 2SA
Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours)
E-mail: jo@samaritans.org
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
The Samaritans exists to provide confidential emotional support to any person, irrespective of race, creed, age or status who is in emotional distress or at risk of suicide; 24 hours a day. Can be contacted by e-mail, telephone, writing, or by visiting one of over 200 local branches (details are on the website).
Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
18-20 Crucifix Lane
London SE1 3JW
Information Service: 0800 328 5050 (freephone) or 020 7657 2337 (Tue 11.30am-1.30pm, Thur 1.30-3.30pm). Using the second phone number saves us money - thanks!
Minicom: 020 7450 0620
E-mail: skill@skill.org.uk
Website: www.skill.org.uk
Promotes opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK.
websites
Dealing with Exam Stress
www.imperialcollegehealthcentre.co.uk/exam.htm
Information on dealing with exam stress and anxiety from the Imperial College, London. Helps you to find what type of student you are and how to manage your revision stress accordingly. Gives guidance on creating a study strategy and managing anxiety. Provides links to further examresources.
How to Cope with the Stress of Student Life
www.mind.org.uk/Information/..
Online booklet in PDF format. Produced by Mind, this guide outlines difficulties you may encounter, and advises on how to cope with the academic work, and deal with practical issues such as meeting people and sharing accommodation.
Nightline
www.nightline.niss.ac.uk
Nightline is a helpline scheme run by students for students, providing a listening ear and information on a range of issues. Website has the contact details of local Nightlines for the UK and Ireland.
NUS
www.nusonline.co.uk
One of the largest student organisations in the world, representing the interests of higher education students throughout the UK.
Student Counselling in UK Universities
www.studentcounselling.org
Set up by the heads of the various student counselling services in UK universities in order to provide more information about the support available to UK university students. Features guides on issues affecting students, such as stress, plus links to sources of help.
Student Support Direct
www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk
Site providing online services and information for those in England and Wales interested in the financial help available to students in higher education. This includes prospective and current students and their parents, spouses or partners supporting them while they study.
Brilliant Careers: Get creative about your future
www.channel4.com/brilliantcareers/works/works_index.html
Channel 4 website offering advice on finding your dream career. Contains a careers database with details of vacancies and work experience, and a magazine with features, competitions, links and chat.
reading
The Student Mental Health Planning, Guidance and Training Manual
www.studentmentalhealth.org.uk
The manual was compiled as part of a Lancaster University project, to be used as a resource. It introduces the principal issues around student mental health service provision and policy, and it includes extensive links to other relevant resources. The manual is in the form of a website (although a hard copy is also available) so that it may be freely accessible and adaptable as further relevant resources become available.
The Student Living Report (commissioned by the UNITE Group plc from MORI |
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Annual Survey of Counselling in Further and Higher Education 2003-4 (Association for University and College Counselling, 2003-4) |
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The Student Skills Guide by Sue Drew and Rosie Bingham (Gower Publishing Ltd, 2004) |
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Student Life: A Survival Guide by Natasha Roe (Lifetime Careers (Wiltshire) Ltd, 2002) |
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(updated November 2002, resources updated April 2005)
