Learner drivers are turning to their driving instructors as mental health referrals among students at UK universities soar by 13%. An FOI request to UK universities and NHS mental health services found they are under increased pressure, revealing as many as 262,984 young people have been referred to mental health services this year alone.
This means one in 10 provisional licence holders under the age of 25 are seeking help for their mental wellbeing. Referrals of 16- to 25-year-olds to NHS mental health services, according to a second FOI request, have also increased by 12% over the same period. And wait times to access mental health services are up to 6 weeks at universities and 14 weeks on average within the NHS.
There is a disparity across the UK too, with and 59,580 in Yorkshire and Humber – 78% higher than North West England, which has seen 13,140 referrals this year.
