Students call for protection policies offering counselling services

87.5% of students say they struggle with feelings of anxiety, almost two out of five (42.8%) say they are often or always worried and one in three (33%) report suffering from loneliness.

However maximum waiting times on the NHS3 are 18 weeks and data from universities shows students are waiting up to three months to start counselling on campus. Around one in four universities have cut or frozen their mental health budgets.

This is where support services provided through protection policies can prove invaluable, as the MetLife research shows that around two thirds (64%) of 18 to 24-year-olds would value policies which provide counselling services.

MetLife’s MultiProtect policy enables policyholders to cover children in full-time education up to the age of 23 and gives free 24/7 access to its Wellbeing Support Centre which provides emotional and practical support, including telephone support services.

Richard Horner, head of individual protection at MetLife UK, said: “Starting university is an exciting time but can be stressful for students as they settle in and need to take responsibility for what most will have relied on their parents for.

“Being able to access free expert independent advice can help students adapt and enjoy life at university. At its core, MetLife’s MultiProtect provides cover for everyday risks such as broken bones – important peace of mind for sports-minded students as the football and rugby seasons begin.”