When attending university, there are many factors that can cause student anxiety or decline in mental health. The spectrum of causes ranges from academic pressures, to rent prices, to food bills, to break-ups. Moving to university will be the first time in a young person’s life where they are in control. After moving away from home, suddenly there isn’t a ‘responsible’ adult downstairs reminding you to take care of yourself. In the words of Taylor Swift, ‘You’re on your own kid., which can make the impending doom of adulthood feel like it is all too much for some. But the worst thing one can do for their mental health is bury their head in the sand. Facing obstacles as they come and embracing change is a fundamental skill for growing up and coping with your mental health. However, it is important to understand why we feel anxious, stressed or worse, and where it comes from. So, what are the main causes of student anxiety? When discussing these issues in other think pieces, there seems to be an emphasis on first year students. However,  I am going to keep my breakdown more generalised as there are plenty of other articles advising first years. But there will still be plenty of takeaways from this for the future. So if you’re a first year student, keep on reading! I think it is important to look at politics and economics when dissecting student life. You might not see mental health support as a political issue or want to engage yourself with it. After fourteen years of Conservative governance, mixed in with Brexit, a global pandemic and a cost of living crisis this has had a knock on effect on student life.

5 leading causes of student anxiety

From reading stats and talking to other students, as well as being as a student myself, it’s easy to see how student life and going to uni can impact our mental health. Here are five big challenges we have to face that can induce anxiety in students.

1. Rent prices

The first thing that causes students mental health to decline as of July 2024, is rent prices. Student accommodation and housing has risen from the average weekly rent being £65.00 in 2010 to £439 per month in 2024. Nationally, this spike in rent prices has not just impacted students but renters across the country. Thus making it even harder to get on the property ladder, which is a bleak outlook to post graduate life for many. With no clear future ahead for improving housing and mortgage rates, young people struggle with their mental health as it is beginning to feel harder to see the positive.

2. Settling into student accommodation

Alongside this, one of the causes of student anxiety relates to the fact that most contracts for student houses are for a set amount of weeks of the year. Not taking into consideration social issues that could occur throughout the academic year, which eventually lead to at least one person struggling with their mental health. Whether it be issues with other tenants, friendship fallouts or relationships breaking down, you still have to occupy the same space. Even if everything is supposedly amicable, these issues can cause internal struggle for all those affected. Never mind when you’re living in a city away from home where it feels as though there is no separation between home and university.

3. Money worries

If you’re wondering what causes student anxiety – one of the biggest reasons is money! Aside from the prices of rent, students experience anxiety relating to money for general living. It is common for students to take out a maintenance loan at the beginning of every academic year. However, it is no secret that this is not enough to pay your rent- which doesn’t include all the other expenses. In a survey by the Office of National Statistics, they found that ‘30% of their respondents said they were working more hours because of the cost of living crisis.’ It was also noted that ‘44% of participants said they were opting to study at home to reduce costs. 1 in 5 of them are moving back home with their families.  Like many students I myself have always had a part time job whilst studying. In my first year at university, I was working two jobs! Alongside also studying and completing assignments. I am very grateful to no longer be in this position. But I cannot imagine how much of a squeeze this must be for students who live at university too. Taking a job (or two) whilst trying to study for a degree is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

4. To work, or study? Or attempt both? And having to balance it all

You don’t have the time to dedicate to your academic work that everyone else seems to, which overall leads to lower grades. But academics aside, it can make or break your social life. Working unsociable hours means you’re often too tired to do anything in the day and you’re only spending time around your work colleagues. This is not always a bad thing, because there are good student jobs that bring people out of their shells. However, what is often the case is that students fall into the trap of a zero-hour contract to fit around their studies. When you’ve been job hunting for months and you’re desperate for the extra cash it feels like the only viable option. However the hidden dangers such as, no work at all, emergency tax, long hours and few workers rights mean that these jobs can be crippling.

5. Social pressure and making friends

If all of this wasn’t bad enough on its own — university is marketed to you to be the best years of your life. In stressful periods, it often doesn’t feel this way. Movies, TV shows, advertisements, older people all push university to be this carefree, wild and exciting time of your life. Which often is true! But when the factors I have discussed are included it doesn’t always feel so. If you’re feeling this way, just know that you’re not alone. It has been reported that between 2022-23 46% of the survey respondents reported their mental health and wellbeing had worsened since the beginning of the academic year.  What is important to remember is that university is a short chapter in a long life of experiences. If it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly good right now, it will soon. Everything will always be okay in the end, if it’s not okay, it’s not the end! You deserve your degree and a brighter future with it. None of the political and economic issues raised in this article are your fault! They are merely challenges to face. If you’re struggling to cope with your mental health, there is no shame in reaching out for help. Institutions have wellbeing hubs specifically designed for students’ needs. If this doesn’t feel like an option there are always student support services such as Student Minds. They are an NHS backed charity aiming to prevent students being held back by their mental health.