UK experts have warned of a mental health crisis among the ‘COVID generation’ of students. 

COVID-induced rates of anxiety, depression and self-harm will result in a “significant rise” in young people struggling at university, researchers say. 

A study by the Humen mental health charity has found that about 41 per cent of students do not think their university institution has prevented problems from arising.

Nearly half (47 per cent) of students said mental health difficulties were having a negative impact on their university experience, while a third said they did not know where to go to seek help.

Universities are “seeing an increase in students experiencing mental health difficulties and, while this has been growing over time, it has undoubtedly been accelerated by the pandemic”, says Rachel Sandby-Thomas of the Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA).

Dr Dominique Thompson, an expert on student mental health, says professionals are seeing “a significant rise” in students presenting with eating disorders, anxiety, loneliness and self-harm.

She says the younger generation needs help to “rebuild their social skills, reassure them about their academic abilities, and support them to be emotionally well”.