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So, let's get this straight:
Students were told we had to go back to university, for in-person teaching.
We paid our extortionate rents for tiny box bedrooms - in some cases, we had to pay upfront.
Students were told we had to go back to university, for in-person teaching.
We paid our extortionate rents for tiny box bedrooms - in some cases, we had to pay upfront.
We had to travel across the country, many of us on public transport, putting our health at risk.
We arrived in our university towns and cities - first years alone for the first time - and attended online Freshers Weeks.
Then many universities stopped in person teaching.
We arrived in our university towns and cities - first years alone for the first time - and attended online Freshers Weeks.
Then many universities stopped in person teaching.
We were (and still are!) paying £9,250 for what is essentially an online course. Sharing rubbish - but expensive - WiFi with housemates and flatmates to attend virtual seminars.
There are first year students who've never even set foot on their campus.
There are first year students who've never even set foot on their campus.
Maybe we could have gone home then. The Government discouraged it, and we were already trapped in year long rental agreements.
But the option to go home was technically there - depending on local lockdowns, and if home was a safe & happy place for you.
But the option to go home was technically there - depending on local lockdowns, and if home was a safe & happy place for you.
And now, we're locking down.
From midnight tonight, it's *illegal* for us to go home (except in extreme cases).
We're trapped in our university rooms, maybe hundreds of miles from home.
Isolated, except from flatmates - who if you're in halls, could be complete strangers.
From midnight tonight, it's *illegal* for us to go home (except in extreme cases).
We're trapped in our university rooms, maybe hundreds of miles from home.
Isolated, except from flatmates - who if you're in halls, could be complete strangers.
We're reading in papers that there may be plans to stop us even seeing our families at Christmas.
Students of faith are already missing spending major religious holidays with their families.
We're dealing with all this uncertainty and the anxiety it brings.
Students of faith are already missing spending major religious holidays with their families.
We're dealing with all this uncertainty and the anxiety it brings.
And we're paying huge amounts of money for uni accomodation *we never needed to come back to*.
The Government has no interest in the well-being of students.
Throughout this crisis we've been treated as the personal piggy banks of private landlords.
The Government has no interest in the well-being of students.
Throughout this crisis we've been treated as the personal piggy banks of private landlords.
There's already a mental health crisis in UK universities.
Uni mental health services are overwhelmed and underfunded.
Substance abuse and addiction are rife but go undetected, blamed on the 'student lifestyle'.
1 in every 10 young people lives with a mental illness.
Uni mental health services are overwhelmed and underfunded.
Substance abuse and addiction are rife but go undetected, blamed on the 'student lifestyle'.
1 in every 10 young people lives with a mental illness.
Four weeks of lockdown.
Maybe in sub-standard living conditions.
Maybe with strangers.
Maybe with no access to uni support.
Maybe with noone at all.
Over 4 weeks of isolation, many students will reach their limit.
Maybe in sub-standard living conditions.
Maybe with strangers.
Maybe with no access to uni support.
Maybe with noone at all.
Over 4 weeks of isolation, many students will reach their limit.
Students, if you're in this situation, know you're not alone.
Many people think of the Samaritans as a last resort, but they're there whatever is is you're dealing with. They even have an online chat function, if you don't do phone calls. https://www.samaritans.org/
Many people think of the Samaritans as a last resort, but they're there whatever is is you're dealing with. They even have an online chat function, if you don't do phone calls. https://www.samaritans.org/
The Young Liberals have long been calling for better mental health support for students in young people.
Unfortunately over the next four weeks, that's likely to be more important than ever.
You can view and back our campaign here: https://www.youngliberals.uk/mental_health
Unfortunately over the next four weeks, that's likely to be more important than ever.
You can view and back our campaign here: https://www.youngliberals.uk/mental_health
And please, PLEASE, don't let your voice go unheard.
Students interests are often ignored because we don't engage in electoral politics.
So contact your MP and let them know the student mental health crisis cannot be ignored.
Students interests are often ignored because we don't engage in electoral politics.
So contact your MP and let them know the student mental health crisis cannot be ignored.
This is going to be a long four weeks.
So let's come together, support eachother, and fight for the mental health support we need and deserve.
Stay safe
So let's come together, support eachother, and fight for the mental health support we need and deserve.
Stay safe
