The cost-of-living crisis isn’t a looming presence, we are all feeling the effects with prices continuously going up, forcing an increasing number of people to consider whether they need to go without meals or afford to pay their rapidly rising energy bills. Although the government has agreed to help the public by capping energy prices and providing an energy rebate, there is one group they have failed to give enough governmental support… our large population of students.
Students are dealing with the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis. Not only did many universities fail to provide up-to-date accurate information about how much money students would need to keep up with costs during this term, but we also question whether the government is doing enough to provide additional financial support, with many students left in all-inclusive contracts worried their landlords will cut off their heating to reduce their own energy costs this winter. A survey of 3,500 students and apprentices by the national union of students has found that 96% of students are already cutting back on spending with almost a third are left with just £50 a month after paying rent and bills. Students are reaching crisis point with 92% of students saying that this is affecting their mental health but only 1 in 5 have received government help.
Financial stress is not discussed often enough yet it has a dramatic effect on student mental health and wellbeing, 86% of respondents to a Money and Mental Health survey of nearly 5,500 people with experience of mental health problems said that their financial situation had made their mental health problems worse. New research raises more concerns for widening participation agendas finding that black, working-class, and mature students are most at risk of being forced out of higher education by financial pressures. We are left wondering to what extent worrying about how the next bill will be paid or trying to work multiple jobs will impact on students’ engagement in their academic studies. The report goes on to highlight,
Students need greater support than ever before to ensure they’re not left behind, the cost-of-living crisis could be a real cause for anxiety amongst students which is likely to have a significantly negative impact on their mental health. With a strong correlation between student mental health, wellbeing, engagement, and retention, it’s a critical time to understand students’ engagement to identify struggling students early and activate proactive and timely support that helps every student to reach their full potential.
Starting on World Mental Health Day, the 10th of October, Solutionpath will be showing their support for students impacted by the cost-of-living crisis by collecting food items to send to our local foodbank, which is close to three major universities, Leeds North and West foodbank to highlight the food insecurity students face this year. In the future we are keen to find out how we can make a greater impact nationally to reach as many students as possible. With one in ten students already turning to food banks during their degree, we are both supporting foodbanks at a time when they are needed more than ever, and we also want to spread awareness around the importance of supporting students more this coming winter. Otherwise, we are we are at risk of seeing students having to make tough decisions around whether they can finance their university experience or if they need to drop out.
The National Union of Students has also started a petition calling on the government to provide a tailored cost of living package for students as well as bringing student maintenance provisions and the apprentice minimum wages up in line with the living wage. We encourage everyone to support this initiative, so no student is left behind.
To help provide some more insight into how student engagement analytics can support universities and students in this area we’ve created a guide sharing ten ways that StREAM can help support student mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
The cost-of-living crisis isn’t a looming presence, we are all feeling the effects with prices continuously going up, forcing an increasing number of people to consider whether they need to go without meals or afford to pay their rapidly rising energy bills. Although the government has agreed to help the public by capping energy prices […]
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