NI Universities Boost Mental Health Spending Amid Pandemic

NI Universities Boost Mental Health Spending Amid Pandemic

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the expenditure by universities in Northern Ireland on mental health and well-being services for their students has risen considerably. Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests shows that the funds allocated have risen by over 40% on average since 2020. This encompasses the yearly sum allocated for wages, wellness programs, and counseling services. The mental health advocate for Northern Ireland praised the boost in funding but emphasized the need for coordination with government-funded services. Professor Siobhan O'Neill noted that entering university typically aligns with the age when many common mental health conditions initially appear. She attributed the rise in reported cases of poor mental health among students to factors such as "heightened financial and social stress," along with "diminished shame and a readiness to seek assistance." "International students and those from marg…