The stress of full-time education has always been intense, and with the cost of university increasing exponentially over the last 20 years, the pressure to achieve academically is now further amplified by the financial burden of getting a degree. Combined with long waiting lists for NHS-funded mental health support, it’s easy to see why a student mental health crisis has bubbled up. Much debate circles the question of what needs to be done to prevent an entire generation of young people from entering the world of work weighed down by debt, depression, and anxiety. What’s less discussed are the coping mechanisms students must adopt in place of professional support. Self-medication stands in for therapy and prescription medication, putting thousands at risk of long-term, life-changing damage to both physical and mental health. Addressing Modern Obstacles Common to Student Life Social anxiety, ADHD, depression, and a miasma of other mental health challenges beset thousands of students in modern Britain. Seeking treatment from the NHS involves being referred by a GP, and a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks applies. Such a delay between finally deciding to get help and actually receiving it may not suit many students. Self-medication, then, provides the sole path to swift relief. Take the example of ketamine, which has soared in popularity among young people over the past decade, providing a temporary escape from the pressures of university life. Any short-term benefits pale into insignificance compared with the long-term health damage done by this substance, and students who become dependent…
