By Lisa Constantinou and Andreea Totoasa
University students have been hard hit by the pandemic, with graduation ceremonies postponed, classes largely online, and money spent on unused accommodation. The famed uni social life of clubs and parties has not materialised, with many university students feeling this has been a wasted year, both financially and socially.
It certainly has not been the university experience many have dreamt of, and while nobody is at fault, the events of this year have taken a huge toll on the mental health of many students.
In fact, survey conducted by the Office of National Statistics in November 2020 and March 2021 revealed an increase in stress, anxiety and depression amongst uni students in particular.
“Students are significantly more anxious than the general population of Great Britain,” the survey said. The March survey reported that 29% of students surveyed reported feeling lonely often or always, with the average among adults just 7%.
“There’s just no work/study/life balance”
Tuba Gultekin, 38, lives in North London and is a second year finance student. “I knew my second year would be harder, but it’s much tougher than I expected due to the remote aspect,” she said.
“Having experienced my first year mainly on campus it was hard to adjust to remote learning. I’m a mum as well so trying to juggle my children’s needs and home-schooling on top of my uni workload has taken its toll and there is just no balance.”
How does she manage her time? “I don’t really, I just have to grab opportunities to get bits done anywhere I can, with late nights and early starts…which has led me to become overly stressed and anxious. I just hope I’ve done enough for my upcoming end of year exams.”
Alimi Bibi, Foudation student at the London Metropolitian University, enjoys spending her time outside and considers herself as being extroverted. Speaking of the impact lockdowns have had on her she said: ” I’m someone who likes to be out all the time and its [lockdowns] have definitely effected my socialising skills …. I’ve felt more depressed than normal and at times its led me to physically become exhausted all the time and not motivated to do anything at all.”
Graduations postponed
In November, an ONS survey showed that 53% of students reported being dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their social experience in the autumn term. High on their list of complaints was the fact that many students have missed the opportunity to have a graduation ceremony.
Aaron Patel, an MA student at London Metropolitan University and editor of mentalmagazine said: ” It was odd to have to finish our degree like that [lockdown] and to not get our graduation.”
He added that he does not know when – or if – the situation will improve. “I don’t even know if I will get my graduation for my MA,” he said.
Mentalmagazine, a digital mag, started as as third-year project. “And then the first lockdown happened and there was a gap regarding student mental health so we just ran with it,” says Patel.
“It’s grown to become a platform that aims to give everyone a voice, with content that our readers can relate to, as well as signposting people to the right helplines.”
He emphasises: “It doesn’t matter who you contact as long as you get that help!”
You can find a list of useful numbers here.
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