Mental health wellbeing at university

ISRCTN	ISRCTN26042135
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN26042135
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT)	Nil known
Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS)	Nil known
Integrated Research Application System (IRAS)	274776
Protocol serial number	IRAS 274776, CPMS 44624
Sponsor	Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Funder	Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Submission date: 20/02/2023
Registration date: 20/03/2023
Last edited: 05/04/2024

Recruitment status: Recruiting
Overall study status: Ongoing
Condition category: Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
There has been a marked increase of 12-20% in the rates of students experiencing mental health conditions reported over the past few years. According to a 2012 report student mental health rates in that year equalled that of the general population. This study aims to explore the reasons behind undergraduate and postgraduate students’ difficulties with mental health across the years of their study to allow for a greater understanding of difficulties and protective factors to inform targeted approaches.

Who can participate?
Undergraduate and postgraduate students at participating Higher Education institutions

What does the study involve?
An online questionnaire survey will be distributed every year for 5 years. The survey will collect demographic information as well as access to student wellbeing services and usage of mental health resources, mental health information, the association of this with loneliness and perceived social support, and experience and satisfaction with university wellbeing services in supporting their mental health wellbeing.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The findings will inform current initiatives and identify key themes for prioritising in further developing robust approaches to support student mental health wellbeing.

Where is the study run from?
The University of Southampton and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2019 to December 2026

Who is funding the study?
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Peter Phiri, Peter.Phiri@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Contact information

Dr Peter Phiri
Principal investigator

Tom Rudd Unit
Moorgreen Hospital
West End
Southampton
SO30 3HG
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)2380 475112
Email	Peter.Phiri@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Ms Ayaat Al-Sudani
Public

Tom Rudd Unit
Moorgreen Hospital
West End
Southampton
SO30 3HG
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)23 8047 5826
Email	research@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Study information

Primary study design	Observational
Study design	Longitudinal quantitative online self-report survey
Secondary study design	Longitudinal study
Participant information sheet	43252_PIS_v1.4_07Feb2023.pdf
Scientific title	Mental health wellbeing at university: student survey exploring mental health wellbeing and access to support in UK universities
Study objectives	This study aims to explore the reasons behind undergraduate and postgraduate student’s difficulties with mental health across the years of their study to allow for greater understanding of difficulties and protective factors to inform targeted approaches.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 14/02/2020, Health and Care Research Wales/HRA) (Health Research Authority, 2 Redman Place, Stratford, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom; +44 (0)207 104 8000; hra.approval@nhs.net), ref: 20/HRA/0090
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Mental health and wellbeing in university students in the UK
Intervention	This study is a longitudinal quantitative online self-report survey. Quantitative data will be collected via an online University of Southampton Qualtrics XM platform yearly for 5 years. The survey link will be distributed to students via their respective university student offices. Qualitative data will be collected from a small number of optional open-ended questions within the survey that invite the participant to recount a recent encounter accessing support for their mental health wellbeing at campus.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	Mental health problems measured using self-reporting at baseline
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	The following measures are assessed at baseline: 1. Loneliness measured using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale 2. Social support measured using the 12-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) 3. Mental wellbeing measured using the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) 4. Patient experience of support services measured using the Patient experience questionnaire (PEQ, IAPT) 5. Depression measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) 6. Anxiety measured using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)
Completion date	31/12/2026

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Other
Age group	Other
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	5000
Key inclusion criteria	All students enrolled at University in undergraduate years 1-6 and postgraduate students, including all full-time, part-time and distance learning postgraduate taught students (including but not limited to MA, MSc, PGCE, PGCert, PGDip courses, or credits at PGT level)
Key exclusion criteria	Participants who do not consent to the study
Date of first enrolment	12/03/2020
Date of final enrolment	31/12/2025

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United Kingdom
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales

Study participating centre

Moorgreen Hospital

Botley Road
West End
Southampton
SO30 3JB
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	Yes
IPD sharing plan summary	Available on request, Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date
IPD sharing plan	The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Peter Phiri (peter.phiri@southernhealth.nhs.uk) or Ayaat Al-Sudani (ayaat.al-sudani@southernhealth.nhs.uk). Contact the Governance office at research.governance@southernhealth.nhs.uk for data access.

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Student Mental Health Questionnaire version 1.4	07/02/2023	01/03/2023	No	Yes
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes
Protocol file	version 1.8	07/02/2023	22/02/2023	No	No

Additional files

43252_Protocol_v1.8_07Feb2023.pdf: Protocol file
43252_PIS_v1.4_07Feb2023.pdf: Student Mental Health Questionnaire

Editorial Notes

05/04/2024: Internal review.
03/04/2023: Internal review.
22/02/2023: Trial's existence confirmed by Health and Care Research Wales/HRA (UK).