CW: Mental health, sexual assault, discrimination
The Student Union’s latest welfare report investigated the impact of academic workload on students’ mental health, as well as other challenges including harassment and discrimination. Rosalie Chapman, author of the report and last year’s Vice President for Welfare, described the findings as a “call for urgent action”. It found that 76% of students had felt anxious and 44% had felt depressed during their time at Oxford University. Additionally, nearly one in five women (19%) reported unwanted sexual behaviour, whilst one in five BAME students reported bullying and harassment.
The findings showed that 38% of students reported that their mental health had worsened since coming to Oxford: 24% saying it worsened and 14% that it had slightly worsened. 32% said it had stayed the same, and 30% that it had fluctuated. 74% of students said that their university course adversely affected their mental health, with a commonly cited reason being a “fear of being inferior to others on my course”, and one respondent writing that “the burnout from workload is chronic”.
Alongside academic pressure, financial strain and social isolation were other commonly cited factors impacting upon students’ mental health, according to responses to an open-ended question. Discrimination, the stress of student leadership, and drinking culture were also frequently named. Social connections and the college community were identified as having a positive effect on wellbeing.
The report found 15% of students reported experiencing discrimination. There was a higher incidence of discrimination against BAME, disabled, and LGBTQ students, particularly transgender students. LGBTQ respondents reported a larger rate of sexual violence (21.5%) than straight respondents (8.7%).
Responding to questions on bullying and harassment, 13% of students said they had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in the previous academic year and 11% said they had experienced bullying and harassment.
There was significant support for the introduction of a reading week. 65% of students believed it would help them with stress and workload. Despite the infamous “Fifth Week Blues”, it was Week Six that students found the most challenging.
The report also discovered that just 35% of students were satisfied with welfare support and that 40% had never used it. Further, while 94% of respondents were aware of College Welfare Support, only 74% were aware of the University Counselling Service.
The survey, carried out by Chapman and supervised by current SU President Dr Addi Haran Diman, surveyed 2,116 students, of which 66% were undergraduates, 17% Postgraduate DPhil, and 15% Postgraduate Masters.
Chapman told Cherwell: “This report is a vital resource for pushing for long-overdue changes to welfare services, structural inequalities, and policy reform. Ultimately I hope these findings will be the catalyst for a better, more supportive and more inclusive Oxford.”
In response, a spokesperson for the University told Cherwell: “We take the wellbeing of our students very seriously and encourage those who are in need of support to access the extensive welfare provision available at both University and college level.”
