By Ganesh Bhat
New Delhi, October 16 (IANS): Millions of students across the country suffer from mental stress and educational institutions know it. Addressing this concern, the Center, various states, and educational institutions are stepping up to save students from mental disorders.
However, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of students suffering from stress and mental disorders has increased even more. According to experts, there are many causes of mental health disorders in youth and adolescents, including test pressure, academic stress, peer competition, and family pressure.
Furthermore, as the level of competition to apply for admission to educational institutions increases, the pressure on students also multiplies. The result of this is mental disorders among students and even school dropouts.
Educational institutions have increased funding for student mental health. This will help students experiencing mental stress to obtain primary mental health care in their own schools.
According to the WHO, nearly 10 percent of adolescents worldwide experience a mental disorder. The most worrying thing is that they do not have any resources for help or solutions to their problems.
Furthermore, statistics suggest that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 15 and 19. These figures are a warning to educational institutions that mental health disorders among students are a major crisis and need to be addressed as soon as possible.
Pediatrician PK Sharma said that Covid-19 has played a significant role in the rise of mental health problems among adolescents. The circumstances created by the Covid-19 lockdown and safety regulations created a vacuum that has further affected people with mental health problems.
Vinod Malhotra of the Seth Anandram Jaipuria Educational Institutions Group said that the current generation of students at the school are smarter and wiser than their predecessors, but they are physically more fragile and mentally more stressed. These reasons are not difficult to understand.
However, competition among students seeking admission to good educational institutions has increased to an alarmingly high level. The education system has an important role to play as it makes today’s environment competitive and places a burden on children’s mental health.
Malhotra adds that nuclear family practices have reduced the emotional support available from grandparents and other older family members. From old to young, the concept of customs and values has become a thing of the past. Attention to these issues must necessarily be transferred to the school environment.
According to academics, a vision statement is being revised to keep children happy at school and encourage learning among them in a happy environment.
Sujata Shahi, Vice Chancellor of IILM University, Gurugram, said: “The causes of mental health problems include family problems, financial difficulties, feelings of isolation, social pressure, anxiety and stress due to studies. To understand and address the social , emotional and psychological problems of the student community, most universities have set up “Counseling Cells” on their university campuses, which provide adequate support to students through active listening and timely response”.
Another powerful tool is the expert-led training workshop that helps students identify, manage, and solve problems with the integration of problem solving, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and stress management alongside the regular curriculum. A conducive environment is also needed to prioritize wellness.
Speaking on the subject, Karan Mehta from the online exam preparation platform ‘Toprankers’ said, “Preparation is the most important step in solving any exam. However, sometimes students feel anxiety about it.”
Helping students maintain personal motivation is essential to reducing mental stress. Mental health is sometimes influenced by how parents react to different situations at home during the test preparation cycle. To monitor this, we organize regular parent-teacher meetings to remind them of their responsibilities to motivate children.
