Male Students Are More Likely To Misuse Substances To Combat Stress
For most, being at university is the most fun you’ve ever had. There’s new friends, independence, and learning about something that truly interests you.
However, there’s another side to university life that can lead to stress, loneliness, and even mental health problems.
For International Men’s Day, we ran a survey to discover how male students’ mental health is impacted and came across some pretty disturbing statistics when it came to substance use.
Male students and substance use
As exams and coursework deadlines approach, it’s safe to say that your stress levels skyrocket. So, how do you deal with stress? Some of you might hit the gym, talk to your housemate, or take a day off to relax, however, others are taking a more worrying approach.
Research has shown that one-in-ten male students are drinking more alcohol than they usually would to combat stress.
While the odd pint with mates is a great way to unwind, using alcohol regularly to de-stress can have dire consequences. The research has also shown that students are more likely to use drugs to deal with pressure.
What’s the cause?
We conducted a survey to assess men’s mental health at university in the UK and found that a quarter of them feel they don’t have a support system at university. Especially in the first year, while you’re still making friends, it can be difficult not to feel alone.
A further 27% responded saying that they feel pressure to conform to the stereotypical student lifestyle. All that partying, late nights, and trips to the pub can get to you, so it’s important to make sure your lifestyle works for you.
It’s not just the lifestyle that’s getting male students down either, as one-in-five say they feel stressed by living away from home for the first time. The realities of cooking and cleaning for yourself, or managing bills for the first time can be daunting to say the least.
When it comes to misusing substances to help alleviate the pressures of university life, male students have reported that it can lead to:
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Low mood (67%)
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Negative impact on social life (29%)
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Poor studying/grades (25%)
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Being left in a vulnerable position (17%)
How to help each other
There are thousands of male students across the UK all going through the same stresses and experiences. You’re not alone, even if it might feel like you are.
A third (32%) of respondents have said that they don’t know how to recognise substance misuse in their friends and they’re also pretty unsure on how to help them either.
So, what are the signs that your friend or course mate is struggling with substance abuse?
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They’ve lost weight or their appetite has changed
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They’re not sleeping well
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They’re selling their belongings, asking to borrow money, or stealing
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Their moods are erratic and often change – they may seem anxious or paranoid
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They are behaving in a way that seems out of character
If you notice these signs in any of your uni friends, then it’s important to talk to them and guide them towards getting help.
Zoe Bailie, Deputy CEO at The Mix, the UK’s leading support service for young people, commented:
“It’s crucial that we break down the stigma around substance use and empower students to overcome the challenges they face. We know students will experiment with drugs, but they should have all the information they need to keep themselves safe.â€
If you or anyone you know is struggling with substance misuse, head to TheMix.org.uk where the team are on-call via web-app or messenger to help provide anonymous support.
