More than one in five students state that they have had suicidal thoughts in the past year. This is shown by recent figures from the Students’ health and well-being survey (SHoT). Philosophy student Carl William Hansen (22) is part of that statistic. When he moved to Kristiansand in 2019, he hoped for a fresh start. The bad thoughts he had struggled with for a long time felt a little more distant than before. Then came the pandemic, the depression and the collapse. The world darkened again. – I thought that I was not worth anything, that I was a bad person and did not deserve to live. Assume the opposite For half a year he was mostly alone in bed. Friends saw that he was struggling, and sought out the 22-year-old. During this period he received a new “ritual”. Good conversations over a cup of tea became a break when bad thoughts took hold. He also understood that he had to seek help. After a couple of applications for psychiatric help at DPS, he got a place in January this year. Not surprised Psychologist Eli Stålesen at the University of Agder often talks to students who are struggling. She sees that those who get involved in colloquium groups and student activities struggle less. – I think that if you have the energy and time to get involved as a student, you can feel a little better and can perhaps find that you don’t feel so alone. Deputy chairman of the Welfare Council in Agder, Konstanse Åkerman, believes the statistics in the Shot survey are sad, but not surprising. Since 2010, the survey has shown a trend of progressively worse mental health among students. It shows that 35 per cent of students struggle with serious psychological problems. – It has been known for quite some time that students struggle quite a bit with psychological problems, but it is very sad to see that this applies to so many. At the same time, there are fewer compared to when the 2021 survey came out. – I think it is complex. But I absolutely believe that being more isolated means that you don’t enjoy yourself as well as a student. The Swedish Welfare Council wants to work even more with offers where students can meet. – I think an active student is a more satisfied and happy student. Deputy chairman of the Danish Welfare Council Konstanse Åkerman and chairman of SiA Helse Eli Stålesen both believe that getting involved in social student services is important for mental health. Photo: Ina Marie Sigurdsen / news Well organized The two biology students Mari Loftsgarden and Elin Heia believe that the student associations facilitate a good social environment. – I would say that the offer is very good, but it can always be better. But basically I would say that it is very good, says Loftsgarden. – I think the social environment means that you make friends for life and find like-minded people. It has a lot to say about how you feel, adds Heia. The offers the students highlight are a free psychologist, doctor, student associations and sports teams. – I think that you just have to continue with this, and then everyone has to be nice and kind to each other. It makes you make friends too, if you say hello, says Heia. Mari Loftsgarden (20) and Elin Heia (19) believe it is good to get involved in the social services during their studies Photo: Ina Marie Sigurdsen / news Students’ health and well-being survey (Shot) 169,572 students were offered to answer this year’s survey. 59,544 (35 percent) students participated. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is conducting the survey on behalf of the student associations SiO, Sammen and Sit. The survey is normally carried out every four years. The first survey was carried out in 2010. In 2021, an additional survey was carried out to map how the students fared during the first year of the corona pandemic.
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Gloomy figures in a new survey show that many students struggle mentally – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
