Universities spend €5.1 million on mental health services during pandemic

Universities in Ireland have spent more than €5 million (US$5.9 million) providing mental health services for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, writes Jade Wilson for the Irish Times.

Records released to the Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act show that the state’s eight universities spent €5.1 million on counselling for students during the academic year that ran from last September to this summer. Trinity College Dublin spent the highest amount (€1.99 million) on its student counselling services, with the total including staff pay and non-pay costs such as travel, equipment and recruitment.

The percentage of the Trinity student body seeking support from the counselling service last year was 11.4% and the college had been “actively working” to minimise student waiting lists, which it said had been “persistently high” during the pandemic. It said “the intensity of need in the caseload has significantly increased during this time”.
Full report on the Irish Times site.