Ucas calls for ‘culture of positive disclosure’ around mental health

Institutions must reassure applicants that reporting mental health conditions will not hinder offers, says Ucas

Universities have been urged to reassure applicants that disclosing a mental health condition will not affect their chances of getting an offer, as Ucas revealed a significant rise in the proportion of students who disclosed a mental health condition when applying to university.

In a report published on 17 June—Starting the Conversation—the admissions body revealed that the proportion of UK-domiciled applicants who declared mental health conditions had grown from 0.7 per cent in 2011 to 3.7 per cent in 2020.