P.E.I. university students reporting deteriorating mental health, says student union

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Nearly half of the scholars surveyed by the UPEI scholar union say their psychological well being has deteriorated this yr in comparison with final yr.

Scholar leaders additionally say they’re troubled that a good portion of scholars reported experiencing ideas of suicide.

The survey findings have been introduced earlier than P.E.I.’s standing committee on training and financial development. UPEISU president Adam MacKenzie and vice-president exterior Iyobosa Igbineweka mentioned the web survey was carried out in the course of the summer season months.

Of 665 college students who answered questions associated to psychological well being, 320 – or 48 per cent – reported their psychological well being was worse this yr in comparison with different years. Eighty-one college students (12 per cent) mentioned they skilled ideas of suicide whereas 210 (32 per cent) have been coping with seasonal melancholy.

MacKenzie mentioned the variety of college students who’ve had suicidal ideas is a rise from previous surveys of scholars.

“We ask that query hoping that proportion will get decrease,” MacKenzie mentioned. “I feel that simply sort of goes to indicate that it hasn’t gotten higher.”

Normal anxiousness was reported by 368 college students (55 per cent) whereas 149 (22 per cent) reported anxiousness particularly associated to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whereas COVID-19 was a reason for scholar stress, the shortage of inexpensive rental flats in P.E.I. was additionally a key problem.

Charlottetown’s rental emptiness charge stands at 1.7 per cent whereas Summerside is at 0.9 per cent.

“The largest factor is emptiness. There’s nowheres to go, even if in case you have the cash,” MacKenzie informed the committee.

Housing pressures squeezing college students

The survey requested whether or not the price of housing affected college students’ skill to pursue full-time research. Whereas most (54.5 per cent) mentioned no, a sizeable minority (45.5 per cent) mentioned sure.

Igbineweka mentioned some college students have been pushed farther away from Charlottetown as a result of rental housing shortages.

“A few of them say they get very drained as a result of travelling an extended distance to get to high school every single day,” Igbineweka mentioned. “A few of them additionally identified that earnings, as of late, has turn into a precedence as a substitute of training due to the housing.”

UPEI’s administration took the weird step earlier this summer season of publicly asking college students who had not secured housing to not come to P.E.I. and to delay their research.

However MacKenzie mentioned this public message, which he referred to as a “marketing campaign push” from the UPEI administration, has helped many college students discover a place to remain.

“We have been very lucky. Within the Island manner individuals stepped up into the homestay program,” MacKenzie mentioned. “We had many individuals from the group turn into a part of that program. And most, if not all, of the scholars who have been informed to not come are actually coming.”

The homestay program permits college students to dwell within the properties of Island households who’ve a spare room.

MacKenzie additionally famous the deliberate opening of a brand new scholar residence at UPEI in 2023 will ease assist ease housing pressures.

He additionally mentioned there was some curiosity from the college in establishing scholar housing at a website that used to deal with a former heavy gear dealership behind the Petro-Canada on College Avenue.

MacKenzie additionally mentioned he want to see authorities present extra sources to UPEI to rent a devoted on-campus psychological well being councillor from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Folks of Color) group.

“At the moment we don’t have that,” MacKenzie mentioned. “I feel that will improve accessibility of psychological well being sources for our BIPOC college students.”

UPEISU survey information reveals that, regardless of the excessive ranges of suicidal ideation and anxiousness, most college students (65 per cent) had not accessed obtainable psychological well being helps.

Stu Neatby is a political reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @stu_neatby.