Mental health in engineering students

By Josh Pearson

Doing an engineering degree is hard, there is no question about that. It is no surprise then, that engineering students have one of the highest dropout rates. It is full on. We must juggle lots of contact hours, difficult content, regular coursework, labs and heavy exam periods. We are also human. When first going to University, everybody feels homesick and alone at some point. There can also be financial struggles with the added pressure of finding a placement or graduate job.

This is a lot for young adults to take on and it can be so easy to become overwhelmed. Especially if you put more pressure on yourself by trying to compete with fellow students or family members. Generally, I think engineering students are quite proud and do not like to ask for help. I am sure there are students out there who are suffering in silence and feel like the stress is getting on top of them. I know this because there have been times when I have felt overwhelmed, stressed and not in a good place.

During my second year, I prioritised my exams over everything else. I wasn't eating well; I didn't sleep much and I stopped making an effort with others. This just made things worse. Life is meant to be enjoyed and University is supposed to be an amazing experience. It is so easy to get caught up in everything and get your priorities all wrong. No matter how you are feeling or how much you think you have on, your health and wellbeing should always be the priority.

There are others in the same position as you who can relate. Do not make things more difficult by putting additional pressure on yourself. It does not matter if you are an intimidated first year or a stressed final year looking for a job. Take the time to do the things that make you happy and make the most of the University experience. It is not all doom and gloom. Don't let yourself be defined by your degree or career path. Do your best. Enjoy yourself. Help others and ask for help if you need it yourself.

There are many students experiencing challenges and stress involved in studying an engineering degree at University; you are not alone. In these especially challenging and uncertain times it is important to support each other in any way we can.

You can find more of Josh’s blogs here: The Intelligent Engineer