Staff Writer Gurmannat Kaur explores the destigmatisation of mental health in university settings.
Mental health, once discussed in whispers, is now a hot topic on campus. No longer restricted to therapy rooms and sidelined as taboo, it has evolved into the lifeblood of contemporary student wellness. Today’s educational institutions are rewriting the way we define success, stress and sanity, with the creation of new initiatives on campus including emotional literacy classes and mindfulness areas in libraries.
Welcome to the new era, where mental health and GPAs are listed together on a student’s life report card.
A Change in Priorities
Academic success used to be the ultimate goal. However, the pressure of perfectionism as expectations rose and competition increased pushed students to breaking point. Escalating levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression and even burnout were often concealed behind high honours and glowing social media profiles.
Yet something extraordinary is taking place today. Mental health is not an afterthought but rather a top priority. No longer solely focused on academic performance, universities are centring a student’s capacity to flourish emotionally and psychologically.
At King’s College London, this shift has been formalised through Student Services’ Strategic Action Plan, which emphasises preventative care and aims to build “a community where mental wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility.” This includes targeted training for staff, 24/7 counselling support and proactive outreach programs for students at risk.
Driven by student needs, institutional reforms and increasing awareness, this educational revolution reflects a deeper integration of digital fluency, emotional intelligence and mental healthcare into education to create an inclusive and holistic learning environment in which each and every learner can thrive.
From Stress to Assistance: The Wellness Vocabulary
This change is profoundly cultural in nature, rather than merely institutional. Mental health days and words like “resilience,” “self-care” and “boundaries” are becoming commonplace. Instead of fearing stigma and the suppression of their feelings and experiences, students are being encouraged to express them.
Universities across the UK are evolving. According to a 2020 report by UCAS, mental health support is now increasingly a deciding factor for students when choosing a university, with 29% of students researching mental health support provisions before applying. Responding to this need, institutions like King’s have introduced initiatives such as the KCLSU Wellbeing Hub, which offers everything from peer support to mindfulness toolkits and pet therapy events.
More universities are incorporating mental health initiatives, including on-campus counselling, stress-reduction classes, peer support groups and even pet therapy days. Students and educators alike are being encouraged to seek help where needed and taught how to spot the early warning signs of mental distress.
The Digital Conundrum
Whilst technology allows students to connect more than ever before, it also presents a number of mental health challenges. Digital exhaustion, doomscrolling, cyberbullying and the ongoing pressure to maintain a flawless online persona all contribute to declining mental health.
At the same time, new developments such as AI-powered wellness tools, anonymous chat lines, mental health podcasts and meditation applications are expanding the practice of mental wellbeing.
Listening Rather Than Just Giving Lectures
The understanding that students’ concerns need to be heard is an essential component of this developing trend. The importance of listening and allowing someone to express their truth without attempting to correct it right away is being underlined.
Empathy, vulnerability and shared humanity are the foundations of this new approach to student engagement and wellness.In fact, King’s College London piloted a peer-to-peer mental health training programme in 2023, teaching students to better support one another with active listening and non-judgmental communication.
Looking Ahead: A Future Based on Balance
The goal is no longer to make ‘perfect’ students. Instead, universities are increasingly seeking to form well-rounded people who are strong, self-aware and emotionally ready and resilient to deal with life beyond tests and academic deadlines.
Emotional health won’t be a small part of the classroom of the future, it will be the base. Students do better in school and in life when they feel safe and supported. As part of its long-term commitment, King’s has pledged to co-create future support systems with students, ensuring lived experience informs every layer of policy.
The lexicon of student success has been updated.
For more coverage of mental health at university, click here. KCL and KCLSU have resources for immediate help and long term support of students’ mental wellbeing.
