THE appalling and tragic suicide rate of students at the University of York cannot just be attributed to woeful mental health support services (University 999 suicide calls soar, The Press, May 14).

Experts believe that environment plays a major role in the state of our mental health. Unfortunately, the higher education establishment is in collective denial about the quality of the learning environment they offer many students and the impact that this has on their mental health.

Unsurprisingly, many students find it difficult to cope with a paltry five to 10 hours of teaching time per week, over very short academic terms, often for unmarketable qualifications, while racking up huge debts.

David Farnsworth, Haxby, York