About us

Mission and vision

• every student is able to talk about their feelings in a safe, non-judgmental environment
• fewer students have their education compromised by emotional difficulties
• fewer students die by suicide.

• Who we are
• Nightline values
• Facts and Figures
• Background

Who we are

Nightline Values

• Nightline call-taking values
• Run by students for students at their university
• Training for volunteers

Nightline call-taking values

Run by students for students at their university

Training for volunteers

Facts and Figures

• Students tend to confide in and seek help from peers, and yet students have been shown to be poor at recognising the presence and severity of psychological symptoms in others (Malla & Shaw, 1987; Broadbridge, 1996; Sell & Robson, 1998). Some students cite stigma as a reason not to access counselling services. Peer support training may be of value in this respect; and continuing education and anti-stigma campaigns are needed to improve perceptions of mental health issues (Royal College of Psychiatrists et al, 2001).
• In a survey of ten British Universities, Webb et al (1996) found that 15% of students were drinking at a hazardous level. Among medical students, half exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines.
• Webb’s questionaire survey (Webb et al, 1996) indicated that 17% of male and 25% of female students had scores on the HAD scale suggesting moderate to severe levels of anxiety.
• The 2001 Leicester study found that 20% of undergraduates reported concerns about anxiety symptoms and 35% about feelings of sadness or depression. 7% reported that psychological symptoms had adversely affected their studies.
• In a survey of Oxford students, Sell & Robson (1998) found that 10% of women reported a current eating disorder.
• In a study of over 3000 students at ten universities (Webb et al, 1996), Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) questionnaire scores identified 12% of male and 15% of female students with measureable levels of depression.
• Doll (2000) found that 30% of UK Students experienced ‘emotional or psychological problems’ in the past term.
• As many as 60% of first-year students report homesickness, and of all university students they are at the greatest risk of developing mental health problems (Adalf et al, 2001). This can be compounded by the lack of a confiding relationship, and a subjective feeling of loneliness, which has shown to be correlated with symptoms of anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug misuse, and suicidal ideation. (Curtona, 1982; Perlman and Peplau, 1984).

• Only 1 in 5 of 16-24 year olds with suicidal thoughts would seek help from a GP.  Research shows that suicide risk is raised for virtually all mental health problems.
• One in ten young people have self-harmed at some point.  The UK has one of the highest rates of self-harm in Europe. 
• The largest group of males who attempt suicide are aged between 20 and 24. Suicide, second to accidents, is the largest cause of death in 15 - 24 year old men. (The Samaritans, 1990)

Background: promoting good emotional health in students for 40 years