YORK students are increasingly suffering from stress and mental health problems, a student welfare officer said today.

Ange Cheyne, education and welfare officer for York University Students' Union, told the Evening Press that increasing financial and academic pressure on students in the city was forcing growing numbers to seek professional help.

Miss Cheyne was speaking following the publication of the 10th Annual Student Emotional Health Survey by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

The national report found that while the proportion of students "with symptoms of severe distress" had grown over the last ten years, the average counselling budget had fallen in real terms.

It also found that staff were increasingly seeking the help of counselling services.

Miss Cheyne said she was "not surprised" by findings.

"I think that York students mirror the national trend. The counselling service at York is very well used and as the student numbers grow I hope it receives sufficient funds to expand," she said.

"We are taking this issue seriously and trying to respond in a variety of ways to reach as many students as possible. I am worried that the complex pressures upon students such as financial hardship, the pressure to do paid work, course pressures and personal concerns are increasing and this may be contributing to the rise in students in acute distress."

Miss Cheyne said that the Students' Union and the University of York were working together on a week of different activities to raise awareness in the student body of mental wellbeing, including an afternoon of free alternative therapies which students can try.

"We are holding a singing workshop to encourage people to sing as it is shown to lift your mood," she said.

"We are also distributing information relating to the Read the Signs Campaign which is aimed at young people, encouraging them to acknowledge their mental health."

Updated: 10:50 Monday, May 17, 2004