It’s no secret that living in the 21st century is quite stressful. A fast pace of life, high daily workload, and excessive exposure to technology are haunting most of us nearly every day. All these triggers can lead to increased anxiety and other mental health challenges.
The worst part? The issue is becoming more pressing for younger generations. Modern students have been raised with the stigma of laziness. Throughout their lives, they’ve been taught that being lazy, procrastinating, or simply taking quality rest is a sign of weakness. Needless to say, such affirmations cause young people to work for wear and tear. Eventually, they increase their loads even more, causing more mental problems. That’s not all. Add to this a lack of quality mental health education and a certain stigma around this kind of illness, and we shouldn’t wonder why so many students are struggling with it. But why do we have to address this matter ASAP?
Mental Health Concerns in College: Stats and Reasons
To understand the issues students are going through, let’s start with identifying their key daily stressors:
- Homework – 84% of students call homework their biggest stress factor. Hence, a huge number of young people are looking for a professional paper writer online on EssayPro. They do this to delegate their tasks, save time, and reduce their stress.
- Overscheduling – Students have to attend school, manage homework, pass tests, work, participate in social life and extracurriculars, and so on. Having such a busy schedule is proven to lead to decreased well-being.
- Poor sleep habits – Surveys reveal that 80% of students feel more stressed due to an ongoing lack of sleep.
- Parental pressure – Parents who are just hoping their kids do fine in college often do more harm. For 66% of young people, their pressure is another source of prominent stress.
These are the top reasons that cause daily tension in young people. On the one hand, research confirms that small amounts of stress can act as a motivator and trigger development. In reality, this pressure isn’t beneficial at all. It affects young people’s well-being.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, 42% of students reported feeling constantly hopeless or sad. Additionally, 29% of them struggled with poor mental health. And the worst part is that 22% of them seriously considered suicide as a solution, and 10% even attempted it.
The stats speak for themselves – excessive stress leads to serious concerns about the wellness and health of students.
6 Reasons Why We Have to Raise Mental Health Awareness in Schools ASAP
Now you know what causes the problems and see how many students are really affected by them. The next logical question is how do we address these issues?
Speaking about students, in particular, one of the most crucial factors in ensuring their well-being is promoting mental health awareness in schools. Parents, teachers, and young people themselves have to develop a better understanding of different psychic conditions and ways to overcome them. And there are plenty of reasons to start spreading awareness in schools ASAP:
Improving the Quality of Life
The statistics show that the issue is real. Needless to say, existing mental health problems greatly affect the overall quality of life in students. People who take decent care of their well-being tend to show better results in all aspects of their lives and vice-versa.
Enhancing Academic Performance
Young people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and other issues typically lose their learning abilities. They may find it harder to focus on their studies, get their assignments done, and even show up in school every day. As a result, young people who are not doing well mentally will quite likely decrease their academic performance and start receiving poor grades,
Mitigating the Risks of Substance Abuse
According to experts, consistent mental distress is one of the most common reasons for substance abuse. People who get attached to harmful substances often do it to reduce their level of stress, overcome complex emotions, and handle other problems. Thus, by addressing mental issues properly, we can also reduce the number of students with substance abuse issues.
Enhancing Safety in Schools
People with mental problems can feel apathetic and unmotivated to do anything. On the other hand, they may also feel desperate or aggressive, which can translate into their attitude toward others. Simply put, students who are struggling can engage in risky and even dangerous behaviors. They are less predictable, and they can cause harm to themselves or others. So, if we want to create a safer school environment, we must address these kinds of problems as well.
Stimulating Better Social Relationships
Whether in school or college, social development is one of the core changes that take place in young people’s lives. Inside the classroom, they learn to communicate effectively and build relationships with their peers, as well as other people. The skills and social patterns they acquire during these years will help them socialize with others in the future. However, a poor psychic condition can affect their ability to develop these much-needed skills. Thus, addressing these problems in schools can help us improve young people’s social behaviors and relationships in the long run.
Boosting Overall Health
Lastly, one more reason to address students’ psychological conditions in schools is to help them become generally healthier. Numerous studies confirm that our wellness affects us more than we can imagine. Increased stress affects young people’s self-awareness, self-esteem, and even physical health. Struggling with issues, they can experience fatigue, poor immunity, and many other diseases. Thus, by stimulating their well-being, we can also help them get healthier.
Conclusion
Mental health problems are a big deal among modern students. A huge number of school and college students are already experiencing significant challenges, and their number constantly keeps growing. Dealing with enormous homework loads doesn’t aid this state, so a essaypro review would be of massive help.
Now, you know more about this problem and reasons to work on overcoming it. Let’s start raising awareness and addressing the issue right now to build a healthier and happier community in the future!
