Thriving Learners College Student Mental Health Study

Scotland's largest study of college student and staff mental health (2,000) supported by The Robertson Trust, Colleges Scotland and The Scottish Government

Thriving Learners College study provides a unique insight into the mental health and wellbeing of students in Scotland, with the focus on college students. With over 2000 survey responses this is the largest study into the mental health and wellbeing of college students in Scotland ever undertaken

The findings are stark with poor wellbeing commonplace, high levels of depressive symptoms, and students ongoing concern to disclose a mental health problem for fear of stigmatisation. One third of students also reveal having experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months. We also see once again that those most impacted by poor mental health and wellbeing are students who already face disadvantage and/or have experienced discrimination. This includes those who are care experienced, estranged, have unpaid care giving responsibilities, live with a long-term health condition, or identify as other gender. These students had poorer mental health and wellbeing outcomes across the board. The study will inform College policies and the Scottish Government Mental health and Education strategies