Southern Regional College

Open Your Mind project launches research into student mental health

A unique piece of research into student mental health has highlighted how more than one in ten students suffer from mental ill health. This research was launched at the University of Ulster, York Street campus on Monday 25th January 2010 with guest speaker, Lynda Bryans.

The survey of students carried out by ‘Milward Brown Ulster' aims to provide a measure of awareness and attitudes towards mental health among the further and higher education population across Northern Ireland.

Results of this Open Your Mind survey show there is still a huge concern and stigma around mental ill health to the extent that over 60% of respondents agreed they would not want anyone to know if they were suffering. However, students also feel that this stigma inhibits early diagnosis, which is recognised as being important to early recovery.

• More positively, 70% of respondents would avail of services if they thought they were experiencing any issues, and the importance of confidentiality was identified as an important factor for students accessing services

• With regards to the types of help and support students would seek the most frequently stated were GP and friend or fellow students, this highlights the importance of a peer-led approach in mental health education campaigns

This research will help to inform the Open Your Mind project during its duration and the further and higher education institutions on the mental health needs of their students.

For further information contact:
Ciarnan Helferty, President, NUS-USI, 028 9024 4641 (w) or 079 7223 5469 (m)
Geoff Scott, Public Affairs Manager, MindWise, 028 9040 2323 (w) or 077 3963 1665 (m)

Notes
1. NUS-USI - the Student Movement in Northern Ireland is the representative body for approximately 185,000 students in further and higher education institutions throughout Northern Ireland.
2. Open Your Mind is a five-year peer-led mental health project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund. It is managed by NUS-USI and MindWise and aims to promote awareness of mental health issues amongst students aged 16-25 across Northern Ireland, reduce the risk factors related to mental illness, through awareness-raising and overcome the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness.
3. MindWise (formerly Rethink NI) is a leading membership charity which supports those affected by severe mental illness and other mental health difficulties and promotes early intervention. The charity offers a range of recovery based services including, supported housing, community resource centres, advocacy services, carer support, volunteer and self management programmes all of which are modelled with the aim of transforming lives and developing new visions for mental health by challenging stigma and discrimination and providing quality services and support.

NUS-USI, 2nd floor, 42 Dublin Road, Belfast BT2 7HN t: 028 9024 4641 • f: 028 9043 9659 •

e: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it • w: www.nistudents.org