THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS FOR STUDENTS

When discussing Mental Health, we are not exclusively addressing Mental Illness concerns. Instead, we try to focus on improving the emotional well-being of students and helping them alleviate stress while uplifting their moods. Sometimes there are minute issues that magnify and settle as a nonending stressful patch in a child’s mind. When we are talking about Mental Health, we do not necessarily mean Mental Illness issues.

As mentors, it’s important to realize that even very young children, such as those admitted in the Infant class, undergo stress and many times show this through various forms of aggression. The recommended intervention should encompass both the child’s family and the societal environment that surrounds them. The child essentially reflects the conditions they’ve been placed within. We have to see ways to root out the displaced and aggressive manners of the children by involving them in different kinds of activities and hobbies.

Let’s see what the author proposes to overcome this biting issue. Also, we have to induce in the minds of the parents of students that seeing a counselor or a doctor to address the situation is not taboo. They should be open to help as soon as possible to pull their children from the fark holes of ignominy and stress.

Team Mris Vibes.

“If we start being honest about our pain, our anger, and our shortcomings instead of pretending they don’t exist, then maybe we’ll leave the world a better place than we found it.” – Russell Wilson

From the Author’s Desk

As the World Health Organization says, “There can be no health without mental health”, and though it has been true for ages, the covid pandemic highlighted how blatantly it had been neglected over the years, and the statistics are alarming. As outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO), India carries a proportional burden of around 15% concerning mental, neurological, and substance abuse disorders worldwide. A meta-analysis grounded in community surveys suggests that the potential prevalence of depression and anxiety might extend to as many as 33 cases per 1,000 individuals. Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, the former President of India, astutely observed that the count of Indians grappling with mental health issues surpasses the population of Japan, underscoring a potential ‘mental health pandemic’ confronting the nation.

Recognizing the significance of mental health awareness among students is crucial, given its direct influence on their holistic well-being, academic achievements, and future prospects.

 Within the demanding realm of academics, characterized by stringent schedules, elevated expectations, and peer-induced stresses, addressing mental health struggles becomes an imperative skill. Manav Rachna International School, Sec-14, Faridabad, is amongst one of the top CBSE schools in Faridabad, that fosters an environment that encourages open conversations about mental well-being.

 The school establishes a supportive setting where students feel at ease reaching out for assistance and discussing their emotional journeys. By promptly identifying and addressing mental health challenges, potential crises can be averted, empowering students to effectively manage the equilibrium between their scholastic pursuits and personal lives.

The process of teaching our children about mental health begins at the best schools in India with talking to them about their feelings and ideas, as well as normalizing challenging and bad emotions. This would need a significant amount of unlearning and relearning on the part of parents and instructors.

Many times children are taught to suppress their negative emotions, like not crying and being strong and brave; by teaching this to children, we are telling them to shun their emotions, which are normal. Also, children are not taught to differentiate between emotions and behavior. They, therefore, are taught not to be angry, when in reality, they should be guided that feeling the emotion of anger is acceptable as long as it is not manifested as aggression. Whereas they should be told that it’s okay to be angry but not aggressive.

Adopting a positive mental health toolkit will not only result in the strengthening of student engagement and academic functioning but also proactively address key issues such as the prevention of bullying, oppositional behaviors, and attitudes. One of the best International schools, MRIS 14, believes that this process involves the recognition that children’s well-being is not only influenced by the absence of problems but also impacted by the presence of positive factors in the individual and their social settings to contribute to positive mental health. Creating a mental health toolkit is empowering them with these skills. Some of the features that it can include are:

• Regular Exercise- Even 30 minutes of exercise or walking can elevate mood and improve health. The small amount of exercise can also add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
• Healthy Meals and Hydration- A well-balanced meal and plenty of water help improve energy levels and focus throughout the day. Avoid caffeine, aerated drinks, and junk food.
• Make sleep a priority- Ensuring that our circadian rhythm is maintained is crucial for ensuring our alertness levels. Maintaining sleep hygiene would ensure that we are able to use our cognitive skills adequately.
• Doing things that we enjoy- Ensuring our day includes activities that create positive thoughts and emotions like our hobbies. Screen time or any other passive activity should be avoided.
• Learning to relax- Lowering the intensity of our emotions and physical sensations is vital to understanding how to cope with difficult situations. This may incorporate meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscular relaxation. Scheduling regular times for these activities is beneficial.
• Set goals and priorities- Understanding your priorities and setting goals as SMART goals will help you achieve them. While doing this, practice saying ‘no’ to oneself, either in the form of distractions or procrastination, will make you see what you have accomplished.
• Attitude of Gratitude- At times, we all trivialize things that we are grateful for. Practice being mindful of them by noting them down.
• Practicing Self Care- Doing activities that help you build a positive self-image will boost self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Focus on positivity- Learning to become aware of our negative thought patterns and learning to challenge them.
• Staying connected- Creating a safe circle of people to reach out to who can provide emotional support and practical help.

Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is for schools in India to discover what one requires and likes to do. It is crucial to emphasize that through enhancing mental health knowledge, we aim to lower the burden of mental disease. Because even ideal treatment at optimal coverage can only reduce the burden of mental illness by 28%, promotion, and prevention are especially important in relation to mental health issues.

Creating an understanding of symptoms, early warning signs, and steps needed can help to ensure proper treatment. Early intervention can help reduce the severity of an illness and interruptions in quality of life and functions. Some of them are excessive fear or worrying, feeling extremely sad or low, experiencing trouble concentrating, thinking, or learning, extreme mood changes, feeling irritable or angry for longer than usual, dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits, having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, feeling excessive tired or low energy.

In the end, I would conclude by stating that mental health and mental illness are two ends of a spectrum, and it would take conscious effort to take responsibility for one’s own mental health and well-being. As Lyubormirsky (2010) stated, “Just like any goal in life, being happy takes effort…Just like when you want to become fitter or lose weight, we have to put work into it” Therefore, promoting mental health is essential for the general well-being of a student. Adopting a holistic approach that acknowledges the interconnectedness of mental, emotional, and physical well-being, will pave the way for a generation of individuals who are academically adept and emotionally equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

Author: Ms. Vriti Kalra, School Counselor, Manav Rachna International School, Sector -14 Faridabad.