'You are being categorised as better than you are'. Male students’ perception of male student mental health

Abstract

The mental health of English university students is an increasing concern and is now often described as a ‘crisis’. Most higher education students are at the key age of onset for mental ill-health, and simultaneously face pressures associated with academic attainment, and navigating new social practices. Male students are significantly more likely to take their own lives than females, and yet more research attention has typically been given to female student mental health. We need to better understand the impact of the university environment on male students specifically, and what can be done to better support male students who experience mental ill-health. Through interviews with 16 male UK university students, this paper explores the perceptions of male students about mental ill-health, including potential causes of, and support seeking for male students specifically. Findings centre around three themes: the impacts of the university environment on male mental health, masculinity culture as a potential cause of male student mental ill-health, and barriers to male students seeking and accessing support for mental ill-health. Conclusions have implications for Higher Education Institutes in supporting (male) students with transitions to university, and for university mental health services. Moreover, understanding the specific male student lived experiences may assist in developing effective ‘gender sensitive’ (rather than gender specific), support.