BBC News, ITV News and The Guardian report on student mental health.
Responding to the publication today of the 2019 Student Academic Experience Survey, Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students, said:
'The survey presents an important snapshot of students’ experience. It paints a mixed picture, and some of the findings should give serious pause for thought. It is positive that the proportion of students who believe their course offers value for money has increased for a second year. However, with fewer than half [41 per cent] agreeing their course is good value, there is clearly more to do to for universities to understand and act upon what constitutes value for money in higher education. We see from the survey the extent to which teaching quality is a central factor for students in determining whether they receive value for money, a finding which chimes with our own research on this matter.
'The survey provides further worrying confirmation of the extent to which students are struggling with mental health. While an increased willingness to talk openly about mental health in recent years is welcome, these figures provide a stark reminder that more work is needed in this area. The Office for Students has an important role to play in response. Funding from our own challenge will support a range of collaborative projects being taken forward by universities, the NHS and other partners designed to bring about a step-change in mental health support for students.'
Our chief executive, Nicola Dandridge was quoted in stories in The Guardian, BBC News and ITV News. She also appeared on Channel 4 News to discuss student mental health in light of the survey's findings.Â