Results seventh Caring Universities survey
9 July 2026
Between November 2025 and March 2026, the Caring Universities (CU) consortium conducted its seventh annual measurement of student mental health among students from five Dutch universities: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Utrecht University, Maastricht University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and the University of Amsterdam. A total of 5,353 students completed the online Mind Health Check questionnaire. The results indicate that psychological and psychosocial difficulties remain highly prevalent among university students.
More than one-third of students reported frequent feelings of loneliness (35.6%), nearly one in five experienced severe stress complaints (19.9%), and 43.6% demonstrated problematic procrastination behaviours. In addition, over two-thirds of students (70.8%) reported having felt a need for psychological support during the previous 12 months. Compared to the previous measurement, average levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms appear to have increased, suggesting that mental health challenges among students remain a significant concern.
Similar to previous years, female students, non-cisgender students, international students, and bachelor students reported poorer mental health outcomes than their peers. A notable finding was the consistent association between physical activity and better mental health. Students reporting higher levels of physical activity experienced lower psychological distress and higher levels of well-being and self-esteem. Although based on self-report data, this survey remains an important tool for monitoring student well-being and informing support initiatives within higher education.
The next survey is expected to be sent out in November in the academic year 2026-2027. For details of the study results, please see the study report.
