Number of students seeking help for mental health problems doubles

THE number of students seeking help for mental health difficulties at an occupational therapy service for students more than doubled last year.

Unilink, a special service at Trinity College Dublin which supports students experiencing mental issues, released its five-year report revealing the service helped 107 students in 2008/2009 compared with 50 students in the previous year.

The majority of students were treated for depression. However, there was a sharp increase last year in the number of students with Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder seeking help.