Mental health crisis: Why is it crucial that pupils receive mental health education?

How to solve the Mental Health Crisis

With the prevalence of anxiety, sadness, and stress-related diseases among young people on the rise, student mental health has emerged as a major global concern. Students are finding it more and more difficult to handle the difficulties they encounter as social expectations rise and academic pressures increase.

Student mental health has become a crucial issue that needs immediate and ongoing treatment in today's hectic and fiercely competitive academic environment. More than one in three students worldwide report having symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to a 2023 World Health Organization report, illustrating the pervasive effects of academic stress

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According to a 2024 report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there has been a worrying surge in student suicides over the last ten years, with a fifty percent increase in male student suicides and a sixty-one percent increase in female student suicides.

These concerning patterns highlight how urgent it is to make student welfare a top priority and an essential component of the educational process. In addition to being essential for academic achievement, mental health is critical for fostering emotional stability, creativity, and long-term happiness. Students may find it difficult to handle the demands of college life without the proper mental health support, which could hinder their development both personally and professionally.

An increasing concern is stress and disordered eating.

The true challenge in addressing mental health concerns is recognizing when a student appears to be functioning normally and mentally sound on the outside but is experiencing internal struggles as they deal with life's ups and downs. Therefore, one of the most important steps in resolving the issue is identifying a student without openly acknowledging their difficulty.

Dr. Sonam Dullat, the Manager (Student Counselor) of the Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, has provided the following important methods for determining whether a student may be experiencing mental health issues.

Emotional distress may be indicated by changes in academic performance, such as a sharp decline in grades or missed deadlines, frequent absences from class, avoiding friends, or losing interest in hobbies. Formerly involved students who have recently become disengaged may experience mental health problems.

According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, social disengagement is a key sign of anxiety and depression in college students. Stress is frequently accompanied by physical symptoms such as headaches, abnormal eating or sleeping patterns, and chronic exhaustion.

GENDER BIAS'S UNSEEN IMPACT ON VULNERABLE STUDENTS

According to a 2023 National College Health Assessment survey, more than 30% of students who admitted they needed counseling chose not to seek it out because they felt uncomfortable with the procedure. The situation is made more difficult by cultural and 

societal factors, especially for minority students. These students have extra obstacles, including language problems, cultural misunderstandings, and a shortage of culturally competent counselors, according to a 2023 study published in Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology.

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