Precarity and Reduction of Its Impact on the Mental Health of Health Students
This study, called PRISMES, helps health students in Rouen, France, who are struggling financially. Many students face money worries, which can affect their mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. This study offers different types of support, including one-to-one counselling and group workshops on managing stress and money. The aim is to improve students' mental well-being, help them feel better, and connect them with helpful services. Researchers will check if these interventions reduce anxiety, depression, and improve their quality of life. The findings will help universities better support their students.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine you're studying to become a doctor, nurse, or another health professional. It's a demanding course, takes a long time, and often leaves little room for paid work, especially with hospital placements. Now, imagine doing all that while constantly worrying about money – not having enough for food, going into your overdraft, or struggling to cover basic costs. This is the reality for many health students, and this money stress can really take a toll on their mental health, leading to feelings of anxiety, sadness, and exhaustion.
That's where the PRISMES study comes in. Researchers at the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale in France realised that many health students who are struggling financially actually avoid getting help for their mental health because of the cost or simply not knowing where to go. This study aims to break that cycle. It's designed to offer direct support to these students, helping them manage their stress, feel less anxious or depressed, and ultimately improve their overall well-being and chances of success in their studies.
The study offers different types of support, co-designed with students themselves and experts, to make sure it's helpful and easy to access. Students might receive individual therapy sessions, or join group workshops focused on managing stress, money, and even relaxation techniques like sophrology. The researchers will closely watch how these interventions affect students' mental health and quality of life, using their feedback to refine and improve the support offered. The goal is to provide practical help now and also to create recommendations for universities everywhere to better support their students in the future.
Key takeaways
- Targets health students in Rouen struggling with money worries.
- Aims to improve mental health, reduce stress, and anxiety.
- Offers psychological counselling or workshops on stress/budget management.
- Participation involves 3 months of support and 3 months of follow-up.
- Co-designed with students for practical, real-world usefulness.
- Findings will help universities better support student well-being.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for health students aged 18 to 30 who are currently enrolled at the Faculty of Health, Université de Rouen Normandie. The main requirement is that you are experiencing financial difficulties. This could mean you regularly don't have enough money for your basic living expenses, you often go into your bank overdraft, or you sometimes have to skip buying food because you can't afford it.
However, you won't be able to join if you are currently receiving, or have recently received (in the last 12 months), any psychological counselling, therapy like sophrology, or treatment for anxiety or depression. This is because the study wants to see how effective its new support methods are for students who haven't had recent help for these issues.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you a health student at Université de Rouen Normandie?
- Are you between 18 and 30 years old?
- Are you struggling with money (e.g., not enough for basics, frequent overdraft, skipping meals)?
- Have you NOT had recent counselling or mental health treatment in the last year?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part, you'll be involved in the study for a total of six months. It starts with an initial visit at the Faculty of Health where a doctor, psychologist, or sophrologist will confirm you meet the study requirements, explain everything in detail, and get your consent. They will also collect some basic information about you and your health.
After this, you'll enter a three-month period where you'll receive support. This could involve four one-on-one psychological counselling sessions, or two group workshops focusing on stress and budget management plus two sophrology sessions, or a combination of one psychological session and two group workshops. These are spread out over three months. During this time, and for another three months afterwards, you'll be asked to complete questionnaires each month to check on your stress levels, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and feelings of exhaustion. At the end, some students will also be invited to talk in more detail about their experiences in interviews or group discussions.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Faculty of Health, Université de Rouen NormandieVerified postcodeRouen, France
Common questions
Who is running this study?
The study is run by a team from the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm) U1073 in France, working with health student leaders and other experts.
What kind of support is offered?
You might get individual counselling sessions, group workshops on stress and money management, and relaxation sessions like sophrology.
How long does the study last?
Your involvement in the study will be for a total of six months, including three months of support and three months of follow-up.
Do I have to pay anything to take part?
No, all support and participation in the study are free of charge.
What happens to the information I provide?
All your information will be kept private and confidential. It will only be used for research purposes to understand how to best support students.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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