Students get into university through litres of sweets and sleepless nights, however, some of the students are dropping soon after the first term. Excess stress and mental un-stability during university life are pushing them to take this drastic decision. Especially youngsters, who have taken into care during young age, could face many more difficulties due to differences in family background and sad memory. These students can panic from alcohol glasses rolling in dormitory floors or conversations about family status or their childhood times.
- 50% of them have difficulty with an opening about their past lives
- 41% of them no longer in touch with their carers, which makes it more difficult to adapt to a new environment.
Dr. Katie Ellis is an important figure, who has introduced about the lack of attention directed for care leavers from the university and local authority.
- Only 6% of care leavers chose to be in higher education
- And 51% of them considered leaving university for good
So it means barely 3% of total them feel confident coming to university. The main factors for this low statistic are a lack of financial, mental support and university attention.
Mental support
During research from 234 care leavers attending university in England and Wales;
- 68% had a mental suffering
- And only 44% of them seek professional help, the rest of them refuse to receive help due to a lack of counsellors and worried about being stigmatized.
Even though some universities provide counsellors for them, the support was less ideal and does not show improvement after sections with counsellors, because they have a few knowledge of the student's history. According to Ellis, it is very important both local authorities and universities have good communication to help them through a difficult time.
Financial support
It has been reported that the dispersion of funding is not equal. Not all care leaver know what they are entitled to, moreover, the local authority does not give consistent information or sometimes deny assistance after an initial promise.
University culture
Students with different backgrounds live together in a dormitory. They plan events and orientations, which usually could end with having alcohol. But we have to remember there could be a student, who has the trauma of alcohol smell and glass. So usually one-third of them move out of the dormitory to avoid this kind of problem, distancing themselves from other fun university activities.
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