These four Russell Group uni cities have the most depressed and anxious students in the UK

There are officially more people with depression and anxiety in places with lots of students. In new research by The Telegraph, four cities with Russell Group unis stood out as having really high amounts of people seeking support for their mental health.

So, why are UK uni students having a mental health crisis? Experts have suggested many reasons. The rise of social media has impact young people’s self-esteem. Covid-19 changed how people socially interact with each other. The cost-of-living crisis, high rents and low grad salaries lead to many young people worrying about their money. Really, when you list all the causes, it’s not surprising that so many UK students struggle with their mental health.

The mental health waiting lists for children are really, really long. In 2024, the Children’s Commissioner found out that 270,300 teenagers who had been referred to NHS mental health services were still waiting for support a year later, and 372,800 children’s cases were actually closed before they were offered support. The most common reason for referrals was anxiety. The mental health support available in schools is really variable. Lots of young people don’t receive help with mental health conditions while in their teens, so really struggle with their mental health once they’ve gone off to university.

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Personal independence payments (Pips) are financial support from the government for people struggling with a long-term condition. You’ve probably seen the term a lot in the news lately, because the government is planning to save money by changing who is eligible for Pips. Across the UK, an average of 10 per cent of Pips claims are for “mixed anxiety and depressive disorders”. The Telegraph found that in areas with more students, a much higher percentage of people were claiming Pip for anxiety and depression. A few areas stood out as having very high numbers of people claiming Pips for anxiety and depression, and four of them have Russell Group unis in. Here are the Russell Group uni cities where the most people have anxiety and depression, ranked by the percentage of Pip claims in that place which are for these conditions.

4. Leeds – 16 per cent

3. Bristol – 16.3 per cent

2. Liverpool – 16.3 per cent

1. Nottingham – 17.2 per cent

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