Information about Students’ Mental Health
On this page, you will find compiled information on the current state of higher education students’ mental health. The collected data is based on research.
One in five students experiences harmful loneliness
One in five higher education students (20 %) felt lonely either fairly often or constantly (KOTT 2024).
One in three students experiences social anxiety
One third (34 %) of higher education students experience social anxiety (KOTT 2024).
One third of students do not feel they belong to any study-related group
34 % of higher education students do not feel that they belong to any study-related group (KOTT 2024).
Almost a third of students are experiencing mental strain
Three out of ten (29 %) higher education students are mentally strained. This strain is clinically significant. (KOTT 2024.)
Well over half of students feel they are not receiving the mental health services they need
Almost two out of three (63 %) higher education students who needed mental health services felt that they did not receive adequate services (KOTT 2024).
One in five students feels that their income is very limited or uncertain
One in five (19 %) higher education students feel that their income is very limited or uncertain. Nearly a quarter (24 %) have been afraid of running out of food before they have money to buy more. (KOTT 2024.)
Nearly half have observed discriminatory behaviour related to LGBTQIA+ identity
Of the respondents to the Minority Stress and Experiences of Discrimination in Higher Education survey, 46 % reported having observed that others face inappropriate behaviour, violence, harassment, or discriminatory actions related to LGBTQIA+ identity at their institution (MDH 2025).
One in four LGBTQIA+ students has a low level of mental well-being
Based on the Mental Wellbeing Scale, 26 % of LGBTQIA+ students have a low level of mental wellbeing. Mental health issues have slowed down the academic progress of nearly half of LGBTQIA+ students (SB 2019/2022).
One tenth of those belonging to multiple minorities do not feel safe
3 % of LGBTQIA+ students and 10 % of those belonging to multiple minorities do not feel safe in their higher education institution (SB 2019/2022).