By Aria Kazi
New data from DCU’s counselling service shows rising demand and longer wait times, while students and the Students’ Union call for more staffing and clearer access to support.
Head of the counselling and personal development service, Helena Ahern says that there has been “a surge in increase of 16.7% this semester”. Students and the Students’ Union of Wellbeing say rising academic stress and financial strain are driving the surge.
The counselling service reopened for the academic year in July and they witnessed the wait times rise from one day during the summer from July to seven days by November. Demand spikes typically occur in February and March, the service confirmed.
Ahern said the team “did not anticipate” the scale of this semester’s surge. “We’re seeing a wide mix of students — mature, postgrads, undergrads — and the increase has put significant pressure on our books,” they said. The service is considering bringing in additional therapeutic staff.
Students can book appointments by emailing the specific campus service. The SU of Wellbeing and the counselling team say the supports are free and accessible. However some students found it difficult to navigate it. One student said she found it “easier to Google ‘DCU counselling’ than find it on the website.”
Helena Ahern says that she noted that students report increased stress but not only stress, mainly anxiety ,depression, being harassed, bereavement, complex family issues, distress and relationships.
The councillor also believes that it is wonderful that people are accessing it and the counselling service is being spread by word of mouth.
DCU Students’ Union VP for Wellbeing, Lauren Joyce, said financial strain is one of the main issues affecting students’ mental health this year. “The stress of affording to live is affecting every aspect of life, including academic performance,” she said. Joyce said DCU’s mental-health supports compare favourably to other universities but acknowledged longer waits around exam periods due to staffing limits.
The Student Union often does well being initiatives, including Mental Health week, the
Movember Campaign, and the Upcoming Wellbeing Wednesday for semester two. However Joyce’s only complaint is that the SU would like to see more counsellors added to the service in the future especially around exam time, but that is down to funding.
Some students say their stress is driven by rising academic demands. Lara, a DCU student who has used the counselling service, said workload increases have pushed stress “to a concerning high.” She believes stricter deadlines and fewer extensions have intensified pressure. “Everyone feels behind this year,” she said.
While she found early counselling sessions helpful, Lara felt the support plateaued. “It flatlined after a while,” she said. She also believes stigma and fear of mandatory reporting still discourage some young people from seeking help.
With demand expected to rise further in semester two, both the SU and counselling service are urging students to reach out early and make use of the support available.