Too little support for stressed out students: students' organization

An increasing number of students are in need of psychological help, but student psychologists are scarce at a number of higher education institutions, according to a study into the avilability and accessibility of student psychologists in higher education. The study was performed by student organization ISO and the Dutch institute for psychologists NIP, Metro reports.

The number of students looking for psychological help increased from 6.5 perccent in 2010 to 9.4 percent last year. This can be attributed to added stress due to binding study advise, the abolition of the basic study grant and displacement in the labor market. The fact that issues such as performance pressure and stress over study choice are becoming less of a taboo may also play a roll, according to the study.

But despite the increase in students needing aid, a number of educational institutions give student psychologists too little time and resources to give a student all the help he or she needs. This has everything to do with capacity, according to the study. Colleges employ an average of 2.67 student psychologists. Universities 4.52.

Psychological problems do not only affect hte student himself, but also the institution and sometimes other students. According to ISO it is therefore important that students have proper psychological help available when they need it. "This is to prevent any delays or dropouts."