Study Highlights Mental Struggles of UK’s Students

• A quarter of students in the UK (24%) say their mental health has deteriorated since moving away from home
• 74% of those polled say Covid-19 has had a long-term impact on their state of mind
• Over half (51%) say it has led to social anxiety

United Kingdom, 21 March 2022: A quarter of students in the UK (24%) say their mental health has deteriorated since moving away from home.

For those experiencing declining mental health, over half (52%) claim to have become more anxious, 33% have lost confidence and 31% have become more introverted.

The research was conducted as part of the launch of Yugo, the first global student housing operator created to enhance students’ experiences throughout and beyond university life.

The research included several studies, exploring the views of over 10,000 students across nine operating markets around the world, including surveys conducted across key university cities in the UK.

It revealed that almost half (46%) of students in the UK return home between one and four times every month, and very few turn to their university health/support services (11%) or professor (10%) when they’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed at university or college.

Nearly three quarters (74%) of those polled said Covid-19 has had a long-term impact on their state of mind. When asked why, most (51%) cited it leading to social anxiety.

Over half (54%) claim that worldwide reliance on digital interactions during the pandemic – from social media, to gaming, e-learning and video conferencing – had made their mental and emotional wellbeing worse.

A large swathe (40%) of students are also concerned about reacclimatising to everyday socialising in a post-Covid environment.

The research has highlighted the importance of universities and accommodation providers doing more to more to support student wellbeing through holistic living programs that encourage balance, inclusion and community spirit.

Richard Brenner, Operations Director, Europe at Yugo, said:

“As the demand for access to higher education continues to increase, so does the need to support students to live their best lives. Yugo is innovating student living by combining a deep understanding of the sector and extensive research with lessons learned from students over the last three decades globally.

“We don’t just provide bricks and mortar; we provide the foundations for students to grow from. It’s our duty to do more for every student that puts their trust in us to support their university journey.”

Yugo’s unique approach

At Yugo, students are empowered to grow personally through collaborative events and projects under the Live Your Best Life program - a holistic living experience developed from the Yugo research of thousands of students worldwide. This program supports students through three pillars based on sustainability - YugoEco, education – YuPro, personal development - YuGrow, to deliver on their needs and expectations. 

• YugoEco will see Yugo coming together with students to create better living spaces and a better planet through several initiatives. These include low energy usage programs, a collaboration with the Carbon Literacy Project, on the importance of living more sustainable lives for students and global partnerships with like-minded businesses for events, education and student experiences.

• YuPro is all about empowering young people beyond higher education and to help prepare them for their careers. To show commitment to YuPro, Yugo is launching its own student council, ‘The Yugo Movement’, where students will be given one mission - to eliminate single use plastic in our spaces.  Yugo is also offering training sessions in areas such as CV writing, career advice, real life experience, coaching and empowerment.

• YuGrow will encourage Yugo students to shine by supporting their personal journey through events and activities in Yugo spaces, including student podcasts, diversity events and global student networking opportunities. Yugo also pledges to provide students with the best and most sustainably sourced chair and bed – these were key findings from the Yugo research as critical to their life to support both their physical environment and their emotional needs.