20 BACK TO THEMES U NITE STUDENTS | APPLICANT INDEX REPORT | 2023 Disability and mental health As we have seen in previous years, mental health issues are the most common disability or health issue. Just under a fifth (19%) of applicants have a mental health condition, compared to 20% last year. Although this is within the margin of error for the sample, it is the first time since we began to measure the prevalence of mental health conditions among students (2013) and applicants (2017) that this proportion has not risen. Mental health conditions are much more likely among LGBTQ+ applicants, with over a third of LGB+ (36%) and half of Trans applicants having a mental health condition. Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, OCD, PTSD and personality disorders are all more common among LGBTQ+ applicants than among the general applicant population. Just over half (56%) of those with a disability (including mental health conditions) have disclosed it to their university and a further 26% plan to do so. But almost one in five (18%) applicants with a disability say they have no plans to disclose to their university. They are more likely to be applicants with a mental health condition and/or to be neurodivergent. The most common reasons given for non-disclosure are that they don’t think it will make a difference, or are not formally diagnosed. However, a few think it will affect their chances of getting a place (more likely among LGBTQ+ applicants) or don’t want their family to know. Mental health condition Autism spectrum condition ADD/ADHD Long standing illness or health condition Specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia Physical impairment or mobility issues Blind or serious visual impairment uncorrected by glasses Deaf or a serious hearing impairment Figure 9: Incidence of disability and health conditions Base: Applicants with a disability, impairment or long term health condition (698) 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% THEMATIC ANALYSIS - WELLBEING