Why Mental Health is Important For Students
College is a stressful time for students. They are leaving home and making decisions about their future.
Many people struggle with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and more. But they can find support through a variety of resources.
Some students may need help in the form of workshops or peer counseling. They can also call a crisis hotline.
1. Increased Self-Esteem
When students have high self-esteem, they are more likely to take risks in their learning and to bounce back after adversity. This is essential to academic growth and success, explains Marla Deibler, licensed clinical psychologist and executive director of the Center for Emotional Health in Greater Philadelphia.
According to the American Psychological Association, a strong sense of self-esteem often leads to coping skills and resiliency, which helps students deal with challenges in life. It also allows students to accept their failures and set boundaries with others who don’t respect them or value them.
There are many reasons for low self-esteem, including a history of abuse or neglect from a parent, an experience of bullying by peers and/or comparison to unrealistic societal standards. In addition, life events, like graduating from school or changing jobs, can also have a negative impact on students’ self-esteem.
2. Better Relationships with Teachers and Other Students
Teachers can have a direct impact on students’ mental health by creating positive relationships with them. They are a source of support, encouragement, and guidance for students (Admin, 2017).
Research shows that better student-teacher relationships can help students overcome challenges in their academic and social lives. These relationships can also contribute to students’ resiliency and self-confidence.
When teachers build close relationships with their students, they can encourage and support them to work hard to achieve their goals. They can also give students the opportunity to express their feelings, ask questions and learn from their experiences.
While there are many factors that influence how well teachers and students relate, one of the most important is a teacher’s personality. Some teachers are more natural at building relationships with students than others.
3. Better Academic Performance
Mental health is an important component of well-being that influences your emotions, thoughts, communication and learning. It also determines how you handle stress, relationships, and decision-making.
Students who have good mental health are more likely to be successful in school and make meaningful contributions to their communities or society. They tend to be better engaged with social and extracurricular activities, have a more positive outlook, and retain information effectively.
A correlational study of vocational high school students in Indonesia found that academically successful students had better employment benefits, higher income, lower levels of anxiety and depression, were socially inclined, and were less likely to engage in drug abuse, e.g., smoking and alcohol.
Poor student academic performance is associated with unemployment, poverty, drugs elicit, promiscuity, homelessness, illegal activities, social isolation, insufficient health insurance, and dependence. This has significant implications for parents and students. It is therefore critical to increase the quality of education and improve academic performance among students in order to reduce the number of societal problems.
4. Reduced Risk of Mental Health Disorders
Students who have good mental health are more likely to be successful at school. They are more willing to attend classes and engage in other learning activities, and they are more likely to have good relationships with teachers and other students.
Depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses can be very difficult to deal with. They can also affect academic performance, making it hard for students to focus and pay attention in class.
However, these disorders can be treated with medication and therapy. If a student has symptoms of mental illness, getting help as soon as possible can make a big difference in their life.
Predisposing factors for mental health disorders include academic stress, social pressures, emotional challenges, and lifestyle-based issues such as substance abuse. Moreover, the transition to college and a new type of lifestyle is also an important factor in the development of mental health conditions among university students. Consequently, it is essential to identify and prevent such problems in undergraduates.
