By AGBOCHINI ESE EMMANUELLA
It is impossible to deny how important mental health is to one’s overall well-being. Everyone can have mental health problems but children and young people, particularly those who are in school, are the most susceptible. Students’ mental health concerns are on the rise as a result of increased academic pressure, standardized testing, social media, and stressful family conditions. This in-depth feature piece seeks to examine the issue of mental health in educational settings and how it is affecting students.
Although it concerns general well-being, this is a pressing issue that is frequently disregarded or condemned in contemporary culture. Whether it’s bipolar disorder or anxiety, mental illness affects millions of individuals worldwide.
Although school is frequently thought to afford students opportunities and exposure, it also brings with it new problems as well as heightened expectations and pressure. Universities should take proactive measures to solve this problem because these changes may have a major negative influence on a student’s mental health.
One of the main causes of mental health difficulties among students is academic pressure, which includes getting high grades and participating in extracurricular activities. Overwhelming workloads in schools can lead to stress and worry in students, which can then result in depression. Many students who struggle with anxiety tend to obsess over details of their future, such as getting into college, getting scholarships, and what they will do with their lives.
Social media, in addition to academic pressure, is extremely important in forming young people’s brains. Young people are being pressured to display their perfection in a social media atmosphere, which makes them feel inadequate and low on self-worth. Another issue that significantly affects students’ mental health is cyberbullying. Many students suffer in silence because they are unsure of who to ask for assistance, which might make their situation worse.
I for one have struggled with mental breakdown in the university. I realized the higher I went, the more things became overwhelming for me. Having so many assignments coupled with group work that often came with tight deadlines. On some days I would cry myself to sleep and waking up with a greater fear of the much unfinished work and leftover assignments. Nonetheless, I had great friends who helped me with great affirmations and this was highly therapeutic.
The University ground has a great amount of depressed people who battle with their mental health , fear of failure, fear of their parents or guardians being disappointed. Hence, this causes great damage to their well-being.
Identification and treatment of mental health concerns in students is largely the responsibility of parents and teachers. By decreasing the burden and ensuring that students are given realistic deadlines,teachers can foster a stress-free environment. The school management can also provide counseling units to help them deal with stress and anxiety. Importantly there should be days specially set for healthy talks to improve the wellbeing of students.
Young people can get the support they require and acquire crucial abilities for coping with mental health challenges.
Recognizing that mental health difficulties are just as important as physical health concerns is the first step in dealing with them. Being neglectful of people dealing with mental health challenges makes problems worse because the mind and body are so closely linked. In order to manage mental health, it is crucial to seek out services and help.
Given that they are a serious issue that may have long-lasting consequences, mental health problems among youths must be addressed in schools. Early intervention is important for people’s well-being, therefore parents and schools should collaborate to support youths and make sure they live happy, fulfilled lives.
Photo Credit: Bitrus Jesse, Benji
