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needed with graduates nation-wide . After thematically analysing the data , results highlighted that 1 ) almost all of the participants did not feel supported by their university after graduation ; 2 ) social media posts pressurise graduates to succeed ; and 3 ) participants thought that universities needed to better support graduates with their next steps . The results demonstrate that many students suffer from poor mental wellbeing following graduation and many would benefit from further support relating to career choice , plans for after graduation , and follow-up consultations to check-in with graduates .
Key words : students ; mental wellbeing ; graduation ; university ; young adulthood ; social media
The declining mental wellbeing of graduates
The declining mental wellbeing of students has become a prominent part of the recent political agenda over the last few years , with 15,395 UK first-year university students declaring mental health issues in 2015 / 16 – almost five times that reported in 2006 / 07 . 84 A report produced by the Mental Health charity Student Minds , from a survey of 300 recent graduates , stated that 49 % of graduates felt that their mental wellbeing had declined since leaving university and 44 % felt that their friends were doing better than them . 85 The report urges universities to do more to better prepare students for the transitions that follow on from graduating from university , specifically in regard to entering the workplace . 86
The World Health Organisation defines health as ' a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities , can cope with the normal stresses of life , can work productively and fruitfully , and is able to make a contribution to his or her community '. 87 There are several dimensions to mental wellbeing , including self-esteem , anxiety , depression and life satisfaction . 88 Positive mental wellbeing can be crucial to helping young people succeed in the
84
Craig Thorley . Not by Degrees : Improving Student Mental Health in the UK ' s Universities . ( London : Institute for Public Policy Research , 2017 ), 4-14 .
85
Nicola Byrom and Vicky Reino . Graduate Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace . ( London : Student Minds , 2017 ), 16-18 .
86
Byrom and Reino , Graduate Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace , 4 .
87
World Health Organisation , Promoting mental health : concepts , emerging evidence , practice : summary report ( Geneva , 2014 ) 10 .
88
Clare Hawker , '‘ Physical activity and mental well-being in student nurses .' Nurse Education Today 32 , no . 3 ( 2012 ): 325-331 .