The 2023 Student Academic Experience Survey showed that 1 in 4 students feels lonely most or all of the time – and that number is growing. With loneliness carrying the same health risks as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and having a substantial impact on mental health, academic performance and student retention, this month we’re asking: how can Higher Education end student loneliness?

Our expert panel discusses which student groups are most at risk of loneliness (and when), what support exists for students who are lonely, how to help students integrate into the student community, and how the sector can mitigate contributing factors such as the cost of living crisis and proximity to campus.

Host Jen Steadman, Senior HE Communications Executive at Unite Students, also shares her personal experience of loneliness at university.

This month’s panel includes:

• Nicola Frampton, Insight Manager at Student Minds
• Sarah Djuric, Residence Life Manager at the University of Leeds
• Jenny Dalzell, Regional Student Support Manager at Unite Students

Accommodation Matters brings together sector experts to discuss the Higher Education sector’s key issues through the lens of student accommodation. This episode was recorded on 11th March 2024 and produced by Ed Palmer.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of individual guest speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unite Students and/or Unite Group plc.

Resources

Student Minds’ Student Space website provides students with support information, advice and tailored resources, as well as signposting to university services.

Wonkhe’s student loneliness research, ‘Only the Lonely’, is available to download here. [2019]

Unite Students’ Applicant Index, Living Black at University and neurodivergence reports are all available from the Research section of the Unite Group website. [2022/2023]

The Student Academic Experience Survey can be found at HEPI’s website. [2023]

Information about Student Minds’ research with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is available on the gov.uk website. [2023]

You can learn more about Unite Students’ Resident Ambassador programme on the Unite Group website. [2023]