– This number is extremely high. We hear that students are struggling, but think how much ends up under the radar as well, says Charlene Joy Valseth. She is one of many students at the University of Agder who are surprised by figures from a new survey. The report states that one in three students may have a mental disorder. – It’s stupid that so many people have something they struggle with and that affects them in their everyday life, says Emma Madeleine Hatlen. – It makes you think about who you usually see who is actually struggling and who you don’t see, says Signe Lefdal Hove. – I have seen that some of my friends are struggling at the moment. And it has been going on since corona in particular, says the student. She believes the pandemic has been like a slap in the face for many. Read what the student organization believes should be done further down in the matter. Wants debate – We have to take this seriously, says Kari-Jussie Lønning. She has led the work on the new survey, which is linked to the students’ health and well-being survey (SHoT). This is the first time that mental disorders in students have been surveyed. Although trends in recent years have shown that more and more students are struggling mentally, professionals are also surprised by the findings: – What is important now is to have a discussion and a debate about how to ensure good care for the students, says Lønning. She is supported by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), which has also contributed to the survey. They believe the numbers are serious. – Now it’s not like we need more knowledge. Now we are sitting on that knowledge. And we must act accordingly, says senior researcher Børge Sivertsen. He believes that a particularly serious finding is that many people say that their mental health greatly affects their quality of life and how they function in everyday life. – It is unfortunate, when you are, after all, in an academic situation, where learning is the primary thing. Børge Sivertsen says it is particularly serious that many students say their mental health goes beyond their quality of life. Photo: Even Norheim Johansen / news Action is required As head of the Norwegian student organization, Oline Sæther represents over 260,000 students in the country. She says that the students have been calling for mental health measures for many years, but feel that they are falling on deaf ears. – We expect the politicians to react to these figures and that the government really invests in low-threshold offers and preventive offers, which ensure that the students get better mental health, she says to news. According to Sæther, there are two specific things politicians can do to improve the situation: Increase student support to provide a more predictable everyday life. Ensure that students have good access to affordable health services. Oline Sæther demands political action. She hopes the new health minister listens to what the students say they need. Photo: Skjalg Bøhmer Vold The student leader makes a clear appeal to the country’s new education minister: – We hope that Sandra Borch really takes these figures to heart, and listens to what we students say we need. – Will follow up Research and Higher Education Minister Sandra Borch says the survey gives cause for concern. – Following up on this investigation will be a priority for me. The minister says she wants a close dialogue with the student organisations, co-ships, universities and the Minister of Health and Care about how they can facilitate better mental health for students in the future. Sandra Borch says the government has done a good deal with increasing student aid, and with making arrangements for more student housing to reduce students’ costs. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB When the country shut down due to corona, the number of students who reported that they struggled psychologically increased sharply. Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkhol confirms that several people say they need help with mental problems and suffering after the pandemic. – We have therefore presented an escalation plan for mental health over the next 10 years in Norway. The goal is to better prevent mental illness, build up low-threshold services and that we strengthen the services offered to those who need help over time, she tells news. In recent years, the SHoT survey has seen a clear negative trend, with more and more students reporting mental health problems. Especially during the corona, the number of those who struggled increased. Photo: Lars-Bjørn Martinsen Student Charlene Joy Valseth at the University of Agder believes that strengthening the low-threshold offers at the study sites will help the students a lot. – I have gone to it myself, and it helped me a lot. – I also know that the offer is there, if I need to go back or if I know someone who is struggling, she adds. Charlene is concerned that all students should have access to good low-threshold services. Photo: Mairi Macdonald / news
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