The Treatment Gap

One of the most significant issues in student mental health is the existence of a “treatment gap.” Many students suffering from anxiety or depression are not receiving the necessary mental health support or appropriate intervention. Why? 

There are two main categories (broadly speaking) of individuals that suffer with mental health issues; high concern low incidence such as suicidal thoughts, self-harm, eating disorders et al and low concern high incidence individuals which impacts the majority and involves low self-esteem, limiting self-beliefs, feeling of hopelessness and fear of what their future may hold. 

The first of the two is the most likely to receive the most attention, although the support is often a referral (in the UK) to a 10-week NHS waiting list. Whereas the second category, is often signposted to a third-party website (often very basic and quite frankly unhelpful), or sent to see a member of staff who has been designated responsible for mental health , often poorly trained having attended a short course alongside their day job. An effort to support but not really able to do more than listen and signpost to other agencies.

We need to wake up to this growing crisis.

In an extract from Daily Telegraph (April 2024) states:

Psychiatrists speak in the most dramatic terms when describing the explosion in demand for mental health services among young people.

“It is horrendous and incredible,” says Dr Lade Smith. Depression, anxiety and eating disorders have all seen a “massive increase”, she says. “It has gone up enormously, particularly over the past three or four years since the pandemic.”

“If you don’t treat the child, that child does not complete their GCSEs. If they don’t finish school, they don’t go to university,” says Smith. “If they don’t go to university, they are less likely to get a job that pays the kind of wages that puts loads of money into the tax coffers.”

Experts such as Smith believe more support is needed in schools to tackle the problem before children drop out of education.

We at NotLost have developed an innovative app which means learners can access support 24/7. Feedback from learners is very positive for example:

“I am more comfortable using the app as it feels more private and secure”

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