SLM 2024: New mental health scores for Nordic students – still not good enough
12 sep 2024The Class Foundation’s European Student Living Monitor 2024 (SLM) highlights the living experience of students across Europe. This year’s findings show that the average mental health score for Nordic countries matches the European average, but is remains too low to be considered good. The results also indicate that access to communal spaces and social engagement significantly improves student well-being.
The survey, involving nearly 11,000 students, explores the connection between student accommodation and overall living experience. The Nordic countries—Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland—show significant results in both student satisfaction and well-being. However, with an average score of 57.8, it falls short of the good mental health benchmark of 60 on the Mental Health Index (MHI-5). The survey reveals that aspects of accommodation strongly affect mental health, and a sense of community is crucial.
– Our findings are clear: student happiness is deeply tied to where and how they live. This report calls for creating environments that not only house students but also provide a positive experience, making them feel supported and part of a community, says Kelly-Anne Watson, Managing Director of The Class Foundation.
The Nordic average of 57.8 matches the European average, but three out of four participating Nordic countries outperform it. Denmark tops the list with a mental health score of 60.24, the only Nordic country above the desirable 60 point mark. Sweden follows closely with 59.8, while Iceland ranks lowest at 54.32. Finland, often declared the happiest country in the world by the UN, scores 57.83 – very close to the European and Nordic average. More detailed results and insights about the Nordic countries are available below.
Spotlight on the Nordics
Denmark: MHI-5 score of 60.24, exceeding the European average, and being one of the few countries crossing the “good wellbeing” threshold. Denmark’s top facilities include shared outdoor spaces, which play a vital role in fostering community and well-being.
Finland: MHI-5 score of 57.83, closely matching the European average. Bookable shared spaces contribute significantly to students’ positive living experiences in Finland.
Iceland: MHI-5 score of 54.32, noticeably lower than the European average, indicating a need for improvement. However, facilities like bookable shared spaces continue to provide crucial support to student satisfaction.
Sweden: MHI-5 score of 59.80, above the European average, with Sweden excelling in outdoor communal spaces, which have a positive impact on students’ mental health.
The report does not include Norway due to low response rate.
Key highlights on a European level:
Accommodation Type Impacts Student Happiness: Students who secure their first-choice accommodation report higher well-being (MHI-5 score of 59.6) compared to those who do not (54.1). The survey emphasises the importance of expanding suitable housing options to give students agency.
Most Impactful Spaces and Services: Communal spaces, organised events and outdoor areas significantly boost student living and mitigate loneliness. The report shows that loneliness affects 40% of students and leads to drastically lower MHI-5 scores (49.6)- a 14 point difference between those unaffected (63.2). These findings highlight the critical need for developing well-designed communal areas that foster community, engagement, and a sense of belonging.
Financial Strain and Student Experience: Financial difficulties have a significant impact on student happiness. The average MHI-5 score is 47.4, which is 18 points below those who could easily handle a major unexpected expense (65.5). The report advocates for the creation of more hardship funds and affordable housing incentives for investors/developers by policymakers to alleviate financial pressure on students.
Supporting Non-Traditional Students: Students with disabilities report Mental Health Index (MHI-5) scores that are 14 points lower than those without disabilities (45.78 vs. 59.7), while non-binary students score 9 points lower than cisgendered students (48.77 vs. 58).
Enhancing Mental Health Support: SLM finds that students accessing mental health support regularly truly value this service. Despite the clear benefits of such support, 52.2% of students are not aware and/or do not have access to this service. Expanding and professionalizing mental health services is crucial to improving student well-being.
Further information
The MHI-5 serves as a globally recognised and extensively documented measure of well-being. It operates on a scale from 0 to 100, where scores above 60 indicate good mental health, reflecting optimal well-being.
Student Living Monitor (SLM): The Student Living Monitor is an annual survey by The Class Foundation to explore the connection between student happiness, experience and living environments in Europe. Engaging thousands of participants across Europe, the survey offers valuable insights into students’ experiences and provides recommendations for the sector. The 2024 report is available HERE.
The Class Foundation, established in 2011, operates as a partner-based non-profit organisation with the goal of advancing the professionalism and understanding of student housing across Europe. Serving as the largest European student living eco-system, its mission centres on being the foremost think tank dedicated to the realm of student housing and experience. With research, events, collaborations and awards, The Class Foundation fosters an extensive international network comprising more than 100 complementary partners creating homes for more than 3 million students. By facilitating connections among operators, investors, policy makers, universities, service providers and student organisations, we provide a community and platform for thought leaders to the exchange high-quality information and best practices. Learn more.