Although students’ substance use has remained largely unchanged, there has been a slight decrease in the use of some substances. For example, fewer students use cannabis weekly and fewer have used sleeping pills and sedatives without a prescription in the past year. As in previous years, alcohol and cannabis are the most commonly used substances. The cautious improvements in mental health and slight decreases in substance use largely took place between 2021 and 2023, after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More students have received help

In 2025, more students received advice or help within or outside their educational institution. For psychological problems, the increase took place only between 2021 and 2023; for problems caused by substance use, it also took place between 2023 and 2025. However, the percentage of students who received advice or help for problems caused by substance use (22%) is considerably lower than among students with psychological problems (66% of students experiencing such problems).

The environment in which students learn and live plays an important role

The MMMS-2025 shows that students’ mental health and substance use are associated not only with their personal characteristics or background, but also with their social environment, educational context and societal circumstances.

For example, students who feel at home and can be themselves in their degree programme have better mental health. Students who experience a great deal of stress due to societal problems, such as financial worries or tensions around the world, feel less mentally well and use more substances. Another example is that students who live in student accommodation consume more alcohol and use other substances than students who live at home.

Importance of an integrated approach

“The results of the MMMS-2025 emphasise that an integrated approach, addressing multiple factors simultaneously, is important for further improving student wellbeing. Many educational institutions already work with an integrated approach. It is important to continue this,” says Jolien Dopmeijer, Student Project Leader.

An integrated approach involves both strengthening students’ health literacy, with attention to their personal circumstances, and improving the social, educational and societal context in which students live and study. The report contains concrete recommendations for this. These include promoting a responsible culture around substance use.

This requires, among other things, better cooperation and greater shared responsibility among the various parties involved. These include policymakers and professionals in education, prevention and care, as well as students themselves, their parents and others in their informal networks.

More information and getting started

About the Monitor of Mental Health and Substance Use among Students in Higher Vocational and University Education

The Monitor of Mental Health and Substance Use among Students in Higher Vocational and University Education is a biennial study conducted by the Trimbos Institute, RIVM and GGD GHOR into the mental health and substance use of students at universities of applied sciences and universities. The study also maps which factors are associated with better or poorer mental health and with lower or higher substance use. In addition, the study shows the extent to which students have received help or advice. The first measurement took place in 2021, and the second in 2023. More than 27,000 students participated in the third measurement in 2025. The report on the fourth measurement will be published in 2027. Read more about this monitor.

Read here the article about the second measurement in 2023.