Academic Stress Soaring Among Students in Finland

Students in Finland are increasingly facing mental health challenges because of a growing academic pressure, a new study has found.

The survey “How is Finland Doing?” commissioned by the Helsinki Student Housing Foundation (Hoas) reveals that 43 percent of students report ongoing stress in their academic life, Erudera.com reports.

Of nearly 2,000 respondents, about 40 percent admitted they feel overburdened, with mental health-related long-term absences nearly quadrupling over the last ten years, a report by the Helsinki Times said.

“Student life has become markedly more serious and performance-oriented. Concerns about societal issues, personal well-being, and the future are prevalent, especially in an era of cuts to support and education,” CEO of Noren, Annakerttu Aranko, said.

Despite these challenges, some 63 percent of students in Finland are planning to enter the job market, hopeful that work would help them alleviate their academic burdens. Only 18 percent didn’t share the same opinion, saying they don’t believe life will improve after starting a career. Data indicate that 36 percent of students expressed uncertainty about what the future awaits them.

“This uncertainty appears to be a generational experience, exacerbated by a reliance on personal resources and support networks, which creates inequality among students based on their backgrounds,” Aranko explained.

The study, among other things, analyzed the impact of living conditions on students’ mental health. According to the findings, 83 percent of students describe their homes as “a sanctuary for relaxation and recovery,” while 87 percent said they value privacy.

Finland is an attractive study destination for prospective international students. Figures show the number of international applicants to study in Finland increased from 32,000 in 2022 to 61,000 in 2023.

According to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), the number of first applications for residence permits for studies in Finland increased by 48 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year.

By the end of July last year, 8,762 students from non-EU countries had submitted their first residence permit applications for the purpose of studying, an increase from 5,911 applications during the same period in 2022.

86 percent of applicants for residence permits were degree students. The majority of applications were submitted by people in Bangladesh, China, Italy, and Russia.

Between January and July 2023, a total of 7,039 students were awarded residence permits for studies. Rejected applications are usually those that fail to prove financial resources.

Another survey by Nyyti, a student mental health organization, and HelsinkiMissio which aims to fight loneliness in Finland, found that half of the students in Finland experience feelings of loneliness. 77 percent said it was due to daily activities, 64 percent due to mental health, and 64 percent mentioned fatigue.