Sally Weale’s article (Universities must treat students better, says UK father whose son killed himself, 9 August) highlights the painful reality of parents whose children are suffering with serious mental health problems at university. I have worked as a supervisor for university mental health advisers for the last five years. I regularly hear of issues of suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression and isolation. I believe nothing will change until we get beneath these symptoms to the root causes of this problem.
Why are mental health problems so prevalent? Perhaps we should question a culture that so values competition and individual prowess, ignoring the pressures that these bring; a culture where our self-esteem is so tied up with how well we perform and how we look.
As I was writing this letter, even my six-year-old granddaughter expressed concern that she might not keep up when she returns to school. We need to convey the message that young people are valued for who they are, that their self-worth is not conditional on performance or appearance.
Martin Wells
Retired consultant psychotherapist