Graz/Munich (OTS/Studo) – For the third year in a row, the Mental Health Barometer from study and Instahelp A worrying picture: half of the students in Austria and Germany are mentally ill. Global events, rising costs and study loads are taking a toll on young people. A comparison with previous years also shows that the quality of life of students has improved overall.
The data is also alarming this year: half (49%) of students say that they are not doing well or poorly mentally. Female students in particular suffer significantly more from mental and physical stress than their male counterparts. Although mental well-being and quality of life have improved slightly since the first Mental Health Barometer in 2021, global events such as inflation and geopolitical crises are having a negative impact on mental health. In addition, around 81 percent of the 7,936 students from Austria and Germany surveyed felt stressed by their studies.
Third year in a row: Student mental health survey
The Mental Health Barometer 2023, an initiative from Instahelp, the platform for online psychological advice, and Studo, the most used student app in Austria and Germany, provides these and other findings. In addition to questions about mental health, current world events and inflation play a major role in this year’s Mental Health Barometer.
The Mental Health Barometer, which has been carried out annually since 2021, is approaching its goal of a longitudinal study to assess the development of students’ mental health.
Three major pressures: excessive demands, inflation and world events
Overwhelm and workload during studies, rising prices and the associated financial situation, psychological problems and exams are the most common stress factors for students this year. This year’s study also highlights, above all, the effects of current global events: More than half of the students (55%) feel that their mental health is being affected by current world events and over two thirds (68%) feel that their financial situation is being affected.
“The fact that the students’ mental well-being has improved slightly compared to the last two years is positive. Nevertheless, many students – eight out of ten – are currently suffering greatly from the stress of their studies. The workload in many studies is very high, and when there are also financial worries and mental challenges, these are burdens that are difficult to cope with in the long term,” says Studo managing director Lorenz Schmoly.
Positive rays of hope: New high quality of life
At least the results of the students’ perceived quality of life are encouraging. Compared to the previous two years, an upward trend can be seen here: 71 percent reported a good, very good or excellent quality of life in this year’s mental health barometer. In comparison, the value was only 18 percent in 2021 and 69 percent in 2022.
Mental health: Still a social taboo
Students recognize the equal value of physical and mental health. Yet over two-thirds (71%) invest just an hour or less per week in mindful mental health care. On the other hand, half of the students invest an average of two to five hours in their physical and social health.
In addition, the topic of mental health continues to be a social taboo. Compared to previous years, fewer students stated that there is a stigma surrounding mental stress. However, almost two thirds (66%) of those surveyed still feel unable to talk openly about their mental health.
Psychological support: discrepancy between need and reality
Despite a clear need (86%) for psychological support, the reality shows a discrepancy: only 44 percent think it is likely that they will actually seek help. If costs weren’t a factor, things would be significantly different: Then students would prefer to use psychological counseling or therapy on site, psychological student counseling or psychological online counseling. Currently, help with mental challenges consists of self-research (50%) or self-help (30%). Almost a third of those surveyed stated that they had not yet used any support offers.
Appeal for help: Professional support urgently required
“Half of all students are psychologically stressed – and that hasn’t changed in three years! Urgent measures are needed to strengthen the mental health of students and provide appropriate support,” said Instahelp CEO Dr. Bernadette Frech.
The call for help for professional, low-threshold and at the same time affordable support for mental problems is particularly loud this year. Students should have easy and ideally free access to professional psychological services, especially in times of inflation. We also need to invest more in mental health prevention – especially among young people.
About the study
The significant results of the Mental Health Barometer are intended to serve as a data basis for decision-makers in order to promote social equality of opportunities for young people with psychological challenges and with low-threshold mental health
Support to enable a healthy future. The online survey period ran from November 6th to 13th, 2023. 7936 students in Austria and Germany answered the survey completely. The study is carried out annually by Studo and Instahelp.
➤ You can download the infographic and the detailed results of the study here.
Questions & Contact:
Diane Riedel
Public Relations
Insta Communications GmbH
c/o honest communication
Mobil: +49 173 376 78 58, E-Mail: diane.riedel@instahelp.me
Web: www.instahelp.at