A student at the student restaurant of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences’ Myllypuro campus in Helsinki on May 15, 2024. LEHTIKUVA
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A recent study reveals that Finnish students are increasingly experiencing mental health issues due to mounting academic pressure. The How is Finland Doing? survey, commissioned by the Helsinki Student Housing Foundation (Hoas), found that 40% of students feel they are being pushed too hard, with mental health-related long-term absences nearly quadrupling over the past decade.
The survey, conducted in spring 2024 with nearly 2,000 student respondents, shows that 43% of students find their academic life continuously stressful.
Annakerttu Aranko, CEO of Noren, the research company behind the survey, notes, “Student life has become markedly more serious and performance-oriented. Concerns about societal issues, personal well-being, and the future are prevalent, especially in an era of cuts to support and education.”
Despite the pressures, many students see graduation as a beacon of hope. A significant 63% are looking forward to entering the workforce, believing it will ease their burdens. However, only 18% think that life will not improve after starting their careers. “Many students express in open responses that they view work life as a form of respite from their taxing academic schedules,” Aranko adds.
Yet, uncertainty about the future remains high, with over a third (36%) of students unsure about what lies ahead. Aranko explains, “There is a divide between students who are optimistic and those who lack confidence in their future. This uncertainty appears to be a generational experience, exacerbated by a reliance on personal re
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
