How Mental Health Affects Students
Having a mental health problem is not something that is only felt by the student themselves. It affects their families and their communities. It is important that we educate students about their mental health issues and help them to feel more comfortable with talking about it.
Anxiety
Having an anxiety disorder can interfere with a student’s school performance. In addition to academics, anxiety symptoms can affect other aspects of a student’s life. This includes social relationships with classmates and teachers, as well as coping with stress.
There have been studies that have looked at the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their association with academic performance in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. However, these studies were not long-term studies. For example, they did not have data to assess the impact of family socio-economic status on anxiety symptoms.
The present study examined the relationship between anxiety symptoms and academic performance in a community sample. It included children in elementary through high school in a middle class urban setting in Sicily.
Depression
Among the college students in the United States, depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health problems. In fact, the number of students with diagnosed mental health conditions is near 50%. Fortunately, there are several resources available to help with the condition. However, students may be reluctant to seek help.
For some students, the symptoms of depression are so severe that they turn to street drugs or suicide attempts to help them cope. For others, the symptoms are more subtle. In either case, the effects can be detrimental to their productivity and academic performance.
The current state of research on depression in college students has revealed some interesting findings. In particular, it has revealed the importance of educating young adults about mental health resources. Specifically, students who are depressed are more likely to engage in risky behaviors and miss classes. In addition, the study has shown that a positive relationship with a faculty mentor can alleviate the symptoms of depression.
Self-care
Increasing awareness of the importance of self-care has led to many discussions on social media. Topics have ranged from exercise to healthy eating. For those of you who don’t know, self-care is a health enhancing behavior that includes stress management, physical activity, nutrition, and interpersonal relationships.
Research has shown that medical students face high levels of stress during their training. While increased levels of self-care may help alleviate this, it’s important to also consider the potential for high levels of stress during this time to have negative impacts on student health and well-being.
In a recent study, researchers sought to identify the effects of self-care on perceived stress among U.S. medical students. Using a survey, 871 students were asked to answer questions about their quality of life and self-care practices. The results indicated that self-care was not only associated with less perceived stress, but it also moderated the relationships between stress and quality of life. Specifically, increased self-care reduced the relationship between perceived stress and physical quality of life. However, there was a significant inverse relationship between perceived stress and psychological quality of life.
COVID-19
Using a semi-structured interview survey guide, the study analyzed the mental health status of college students. The findings indicate that social contacts are important in students’ mental health. It is important to address the challenges faced by college students as they transition to and from school.
Although most participants did not seek counseling services, 10 did. These students reported mild suicidal thoughts. Other reasons for suicidal thoughts included fear of insecurity and uncertainty when returning home. The study found that students who felt more connected to others reported fewer persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Despite the heavy toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ mental health, the majority of students used self-management methods to cope. These methods included meditation, breathing exercises, positive reframing, and spiritual measures. The study suggests that similar approaches should be adopted to engage college students in mental health programs.
Common triggers
Identifying common mental health triggers is important for both reducing symptoms and building resilience against triggering events. They can be difficult to identify and address. They are caused by various stimuli and can be highly personal.
A trigger is a stimulus that wakes up a painful memory or symptom. It can be a physical sensation, a thought, or an awareness of reality.
Emotional triggers are less logical. They can be a single event, such as the loss of a loved one or a job, or it can be a series of events. The American Psychological Association (APA) says that a trigger is more distressing if it is surprising.
Rethinking the current education system
Across the country, many schools are rethinking their education systems to address the mental health effects on students. They are giving faculty the tools and training to be able to identify and support students who need help, and rethinking how they respond to problems.
Some schools have created groups for students to be able to share information and support one another. These groups can include peers and professional counselors, and can be very helpful for students who have adjustment issues or interpersonal conflict.
Other institutions have contracted with telehealth platforms such as WellTrack or SilverCloud. These services allow for more rapid access to care, and they are helping to provide the tools for educators to be able to detect and support students in distress.
