Mental Health

The University of Notre Dame Australia has expanded its approach to student wellbeing through the Sonder app, providing students with access to mental health, wellbeing and safety support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Nearly 1,000 students have been actively using the platform since its launch across campuses in 2025, complementing the university’s […]

Many university students experiencing mental ill-health do not access available support, creating a gap between service need and use. Researchers from The University of Melbourne analysed 4,375 Australian university students with probable depression and/or anxiety to examine awareness and use of mental health services. Compared with domestic students, international students had substantially higher odds of […]

Food insecurity is an increasing concern for university students, with potential consequences extending beyond nutrition to mental health and eating behaviours. Researchers from the University of Wollongong and collaborating institutions surveyed 348 Australian university students to examine relationships between food insecurity, psychological distress and disordered eating risk. Almost two-thirds (63%) experienced some level of food […]

University students with disability can face additional barriers to maintaining their health, wellbeing and academic success, highlighting the importance of accessible and inclusive university support. Queensland University of Technology interviewed 31 students with disability about their experiences and preferences for health and wellbeing support. Students described challenges balancing study, health and everyday life, with 74% […]

Depression, anxiety and stress are common among university students, highlighting the need for accessible strategies that support mental health alongside existing services. Researchers conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of 25 international randomised controlled trials involving 2,127 university students to compare different forms of exercise. Overall, exercise significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety and […]

Growing demand for student mental health support often exceeds the capacity of traditional university services. Researchers from UNSW Sydney’s Black Dog Institute evaluated the ‘Vibe Up’ program with 1,282 Australian university students experiencing psychological distress. After an initial monitoring phase, students received brief smartphone‑based interventions focused on physical activity, sleep, mindfulness or symptom tracking. Across […]

University students experiencing mental health challenges may benefit from physical activity, but structured exercise programs remain underused within university mental health services. The University of Western Australia examined 93 students participating in ‘Stride’, a 12-week, on-campus exercise program for students experiencing mental distress. Students were referred through university support services or health professionals and participated […]

Forty-seven university representatives from across Australia and New Zealand came together online on Tuesday 28 July for the latest UniSport Healthy Campus Community of Practice, which explored practical ways to advance mental health and wellbeing through the FISU Healthy Campus program.   Mental health and wellbeing continue to be a key focus for universities globally, with […]

Physical activity initiatives offer universities an opportunity to improve student wellbeing while encouraging conversations about mental health. The University of Melbourne evaluated The Push-Up Challenge, a national program combining a month-long physical activity challenge with daily mental health education, self-care messages and help-seeking information. Tracking more than 29,000 participants, the study found improvements in wellbeing, […]

Poor sleep, low physical activity and other unhealthy behaviours are common among university students and are closely linked to poorer mental health. Yet the most effective intervention approaches remain uncertain. A systematic review by the University of Newcastle examined 22 randomised controlled trials targeting sleep, physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol use and other behaviours. While […]