Connection found between students’ mental health risk and subject of study

A recent report by Ulster University and the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) found that students’ risk of mental illness, substance disorder, suicidal thoughts, and ADHD varied by course at university.

The study surveyed almost 2,000 undergraduate students in Ireland. The report did not suggest a causality between studying a specific subject and psychological problems, but merely a correlation, particularly as many students enrol at university with a pre-existing mental illness.

It was concluded that Arts and Humanities students were the most likely to show signs of depression and social anxiety, while those studying Life and Health Sciences were the least likely to admit to psychological issues.

Within each subject area, Psychology students exhibited, on average, the highest rates of mental illness, while nursing students showed the lowest levels. It was stated in the report that students may be attracted to subjects “such as psychology or law, due to negative early life experiences”.

The report was released amid wider evidence that many young people are struggling with their mental health. Latest figures published by Randstad show that 37% of students have experienced a deterioration of their mental wellbeing since starting higher education, while the NHS found that over a quarter of 17–19-year-olds have a probable mental disorder (an increase of 8% between 2021 and 2022).

In recent years, a number of UK universities, including Cambridge, Bristol, and Exeter, have been accused of failing in their duty of care amid a series of high-profile student suicides. The researchers at Ulster and ATU hope that their report will enable universities to better identify the students most at risk of developing psychological disorders and tailor programmes to help them.

If you know someone, or are yourself struggling with your mental health, you can contact Warwick Community Safety at 024 7652 2222, the NHS Mental Health Services at 0300 200 0011, and the Samaritan Suicide Prevention number at 116 123.