Introduction
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a world-leading university specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics, and law. It was named University of the Year in 2025 by the Good University Guide. Based in the heart of London, the LSE are a global community of people and ideas that transform the world, educating over 12,000 students each year.
The Challenge
The London School of Economics (LSE) have long recognised increased demand for comprehensive mental health and wellbeing support. Several challenges led to the university securing a partnership with Spectrum.Life. Over the past few years there has been a noticeable increase in students experiencing anxiety, stress, and burnout, particularly in a high-pressure academic environment like the LSE. Many students also still struggle with the transition back to on-campus learning and social reintegration after the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a global institution with students from over 140 countries, the LSE needed a support service that could cater to a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures, and time zones. Given the increasing demand for counselling and wellbeing support, it was compelling to augment their existing service with external expertise. Moreover, some students can be hesitant to access university-based mental health support due to cultural stigma, requiring a confidential and flexible alternative.
These challenges were matters of concern for the LSE’s academic environment, student engagement, and institutional duty of care alike. Its in-house counselling team sometimes experiences longer than ideal wait times, making it challenging to provide timely interventions without the augmentation provided by Spectrum.Life’s 24/7 support service.
Stress, anxiety, and burnout can negatively affect students’ ability to engage fully in their studies and in university life. Mental health struggles can lead to an increase in deferrals, exam stress, and unnecessary lapses in engagement. Sufficient wellbeing support can positively impact both student retention and overall satisfaction, particularly in the context of LSE’s well-deserved reputation as a world-class academic institution. With these and other considerations at play, Spectrum.Life’s support appreciably enhances the LSE’s ability to support its students to the standards they rightly expect.
The Solution
The introduction of Spectrum.Life’s services has had a positive impact on student wellbeing at the LSE. Students have 24/7 access to professional support offered by experienced practitioners, reducing the stress and anxiety sometimes associated with seeking help. The additional resource provided by Spectrum.Life has been critical to easing the pressure on wait times for counselling and wellbeing appointments. The flexibility of online and multilingual support is believed to have encouraged more students to seek help. With better mental health support, students are likely to be more focused, engaged, and able to perform at their best academically. Lastly, Spectrum.Life has allowed the LSE to introduce more preventative measures including workshops, digital wellbeing content, and early intervention strategies through its digital wellbeing platform.
Partnering with Spectrum.Life has been great for LSE students. The accessibility, flexibility, and quality of their service enhances our ability to support students. The collaboration aligns with our ongoing commitment to fostering a mentally resilient student community.
Venitia Stoby, Deputy Head of Student Services – Student Wellbeing
