“I just wanted someone to tell me I was not alone.”

- TalkCampus student

Impact Report - 2026

The Power of Human Connection

How peer support is transforming student wellbeing - a TalkCampus impact report.

“I just wanted someone to tell me I was not alone.”

- TalkCampus student

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Connected. Supported.

1 Introduction

For students today, the path through university or college is shaped by more than academic challenges alone. Loneliness, isolation, and a fractured sense of belonging are defining features of student life - compounded by the lasting effects of a pandemic that disrupted social development at its most critical stage, and a world that continues to feel unsettled.

For the TalkCampus Impact Survey 2026, we set out to understand how students are really feeling - and whether the peer support of the TalkCampus community is making a meaningful difference to their wellbeing, their sense of connection, and their ability to thrive.

We asked students directly: do you feel lonely? Do you feel like you belong? Has this community helped? And critically - what would you want your university or college to know?

Their answers paint a clear picture. The need is significant. The impact is real. And the students themselves are asking institutions to keep investing in the communities that support them.

Not alone. Never alone.

2 The Student Wellbeing Crisis

Loneliness among students is not a niche concern - it is an epidemic. The U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness a public health crisis with effects comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In the UK, the Office for National Statistics has consistently found that young people aged 16 to 24 are the loneliest age group in the country. And research from the Healthy Minds Network shows that the majority of university students in the US report feeling lonely.

The TalkCampus students confirmed what the research tells us - but the scale is still striking.

“Effects comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”

- U.S. Surgeon General on loneliness

Ages 16-24 - Loneliest age group

I don't belong.

3 Loneliness & Isolation

Of students feel they lack companionship at university.

Often or some of the time

Feel left out.

Feel isolated from others.

Note

It is worth noting that the students who completed this survey are already using TalkCampus - which likely means they are experiencing higher levels of loneliness and isolation than the typical student population. This tells us something important: TalkCampus is reaching the students who need support the most. These are the students who might otherwise fall through the gaps of traditional services - and the ones whose wellbeing, retention, and success are most at risk.

Belonging

This matters because belonging is one of the strongest predictors of student wellbeing, engagement, and retention. When students don't feel they belong, everything else, from academic performance to social confidence, suffers.

1 in 3

Students feel like they belong at their university or college.

I miss my family.

4 The Ripple Effect on Studies

The consequences of loneliness extend well beyond how students feel. They shape what students achieve.

Say that feeling lonely or isolated has affected their ability to focus on their studies.

More than half have considered leaving their course because of loneliness or feeling disconnected.

I can't focus

Of those who considered leaving, the majority stayed. But the fact that so many reached that point tells us how deeply isolation undermines the student experience.

5 A Hidden Problem

1 in 4 students spoke to no one face-to-face in the previous 24 hours.

Many students who are struggling are doing so silently. The barriers to seeking support are significant:

41% didn't want to worry anyone.
39% didn't feel their situation was serious enough.
36% were worried about being judged.
32% preferred anonymity.
30% didn't know what was available.

And when asked what they would have done without access to a peer support community - almost 1 in 3 said they would not have sought support at all.

6 How TalkCampus Makes a Difference

TalkCampus offers something that traditional support services often cannot: connection that is immediate, anonymous, judgement-free, and available around the clock. It meets students where they are - on their phones, in their own time, on their own terms.

The students who use TalkCampus told us clearly that it is making a difference.

“The only reason I am still here and studying.”

- TalkCampus student

7 Student Stories

“I just wanted someone to tell me I was not alone.”

I work and study simultaneously and hardly find the time to stop and ruminate during the day. It’s only in the evenings and weekends when I feel low. About two months ago, I was feeling really low and there wasn’t a single moment or event that had brought it on.

I posted about how I was feeling at my breaking point and within minutes I had people talking to me. I ended up talking to a really nice lady who helped me get in touch with further support. That was the first time I felt brave enough to call a crisis helpline.

“That was the first time I felt like someone cared about me. That I mattered.”

“We usually have no one.”

I want my university to know they probably have no idea how hard uni life is for international students. We have to work on the side to pay for living expenses and tuition fees. Time is a luxury we simply do not have.

“I built up the confidence to connect with people again.”

A few times I’ve felt too anxious to speak to people in person but wanted to socialise. By going on TalkCampus, I built up the confidence to connect with people again.

“I really just needed one place I could go where I’m not judged.”

I appreciate it so much that there’s people online that are understanding, that I can simply open up to. TalkCampus makes me feel like I’m safe to say what’s on my mind.

“Sometimes all I’m looking for is empathy.”

“At TalkCampus I am always included.”

I am an older student and on campus, fellow students avoid me.

Wellbeing

Say their overall wellbeing has improved since using TalkCampus.

Not a single student reported that their wellbeing had declined.

Loneliness & Connection

Feel less lonely

Feel more connected

Feel a greater sense of belonging

Understanding & Inclusion

Find people who understand them

Culturally, linguistically, or personally.

For international students, first-generation students, LGBTQ+ students, and those from minoritised backgrounds, this is especially powerful. TalkCampus doesn't just reduce isolation, it creates a space where students can find others who share their experience.

Shared experiences

8 A Safety Net, Day and Night

Agree that 24/7 access helps them feel safer and less alone.

"The fact that there are people I can turn to, day and night, no matter what situation I'm in."

- TalkCampus student

For many students, TalkCampus is a secure base in unpredictable times. Its constant availability doesn't just offer support in moments of crisis, it provides ongoing reassurance that someone is always there.

Turn to TalkCampus in the evening or late at night.

Always someone there.

12:55 AM

9 A Bridge to Further Support

TalkCampus doesn't replace professional services, it complements them. By building confidence and reducing the stigma of asking for help, peer support acts as a stepping stone.

Feel ready to reach out for more support.

"This community provides a way for students to reach out in a safe way. It gives them the first stepping point to get help. This is crucial for people because if they find that they can take one step they know they can take another."

- TalkCampus student

10 Supporting Academic Success

The link between wellbeing and academic outcomes is well established. Students who feel connected and supported attend more, achieve more, and are far less likely to drop out.

Say the community has helped them stay motivated with their studies during a difficult period.

Had considered leaving their course - but the vast majority stayed.

The economic value of retaining even a small number of students is significant- in lifetime earnings, in tuition revenue, and in the reputation of the institution. But beyond the numbers, every student who stays is a student who gets to fulfil the potential they came to university or college with.

"This community is a safe space which allows for us to vent and get negative feelings off our chest, or to offer support - helping to reframe problems in new ways. It is hugely beneficial to wellbeing and the motivated, proactive individuals on this platform inspire me to strive for improvement, both emotionally and within my studies."

- TalkCampus student

11 What Students Want Their University or College to Know

We asked TalkCampus students a simple question: What would you want your university or college to know about why this community matters to students like you?

Of students

Recommend that their university or college continue offering this community.

Of students

Say it is very important or essential that their institution provides it.

Their words speak for themselves.

Student Voices

Student

“Knowing someone is always there to talk to.”

Student

“Everyone is so kind and welcoming.”

Student

“It makes us feel less alone.”

Student

“When it's night time and there's no one to talk to, I can just reach out through the platform since

there's people on the other side of the world.

It's better than waiting for hours for a professional to check in with me.”

Student

“I don't feel as safe going to my school's wellbeing officer and counselor. I feel my cohort is gossipy and competitive.

I feel very safe posting anonymously on this app though.”

Student

“The ability to connect with people without judgement, knowing that

my thoughts are important.”

Student

“How it's anonymous

and so supportive and honestly validating.”

Student

“Due to the long waiting lists it's important to have

instant support available when required.”

Student

“Being able to both give and receive support. Sometimes by listening to others,

my problems feel communal and less heavy.”

Student

“Inclusive and diverse.

Does not feel lonely.”

Student

“A non-judgemental space of

reciprocal care.”

Student

“It's so lovely to

connect with students across the globe and share experiences.”

Student

“There are always people ready to listen and a

strong supporting community.”

12 Conclusion

The students using TalkCampus are navigating a world that demands more of them than any generation before, recovering from the aftershocks of a pandemic while building the foundations of their adult lives. Many are doing so while feeling profoundly alone.

TalkCampus gives them something essential: a community of peers who understand, who are available and who don't judge. A place where they can be heard at 2am or 2pm. A space where giving support is just as powerful as receiving it.

The results are clear. Students who use TalkCampus feel less lonely, more connected, and more confident in reaching out for help. Their wellbeing improves. Their sense of belonging grows. And for many, it is the difference between staying on their course and walking away.

89%

Of students recommend that their university or college continue offering TalkCampus.

The question for institutions is no longer whether students are struggling - but whether they have somewhere to turn when they do.

Someone gets it.

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