A leading mental health charity has called on the Scottish Government to provide more support to colleges after a survey found "alarming" levels of depression and food poverty amongst students.
The largest study on the mental health and wellbeing of college students in Scotland has revealed more than half reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression.
And despite the prevalence of mental health problems among the college student population, more than half (55%) said they have concealed a mental health problem due to fear of stigmatisation.
The analysis has prompted a series of recommendations from Mental Health Foundation and Colleges Scotland including calls for sustained Scottish Government investment in mental health and wellbeing supports at college.
The study published by the Mental Health Foundation also found that more than one third (37%) experienced food insecurity in the previous 12 months.
