The Importance of Mental Health for Students
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Support for #mentalhealth continues to be a challenge. While recent efforts have focused on removing the #stigma and increasing #awareness, we still have a long way to go to ensure that individuals have the support they need. Mental health for #students is an especially important topic. Students are in a world of rapid change and may not be well equipped with the #tools and #strategies to improve their mental health. We will discuss the importance of discussing mental health, factors that influence it and the benefits of prioritizing your mental health.???
Why is Mental Health an Important Topic of Discussion?
Discussing mental health is very important to our society because mental health can have an impact on anyone at any time in their life. It is estimated that every year 1 in 5 Canadians suffer from mental health challenges and by age 40, half of Canadians have experienced a mental illness. Mental health touches all aspects of our lives as it influences our thoughts, bodies, emotions, and behaviours. Our emotional, psychological and overall well-being are all tied to our mental health. It affects how we respond to different stressors in our lives as it helps guide us in how to cope and deal with our problems. Our mental health also influences the decisions we make, whether it’s simple everyday choices or big, life-changing ones. When someone is struggling with their mental health, it doesn’t affect that individual alone. It impacts everything and everyone around them from personal, professional, and academic endeavours.
Over the course of our lives, our mental health can change depending on several factors and circumstances. For instance, an individual’s mental health may be negatively impacted if the needs and demands placed on them surpass their resources and coping abilities. Mental health is just as important as one’s physical health and having poor mental health could impact our overall function. In fact, having poor mental health can have harmful effects on physical health and vice versa. Really, mental health is health. But, due to stigma, lack of awareness and resources, mental health is often discussed as its own category.?
We need to change our attitudes and end the stigma around mental health. Some negative consequences of stigma include discrimination, lack of understanding from peers and loved ones, limited opportunities, hesitance to seek help, fewer social interactions and low self-esteem. Normalizing the discussion of mental health and increasing awareness creates a safe space for those who are struggling. Thus, giving them the confidence to speak up, ask for help and receive the support that they need. One way to raise awareness about mental health is by educating ourselves and others.
Why is Mental Health Important for Students?
Young people’s health and well-being during adolescence and into adulthood depend on fostering emotional learning, and psychological well-being and guaranteeing access to mental health care and support. Adolescents who struggle with their mental health are more susceptible to social isolation, stigma (which can prevent their willingness to seek help), academic challenges, risk-taking behaviours, and physical health.
In Canada, 1.2 million youth suffer from challenges with their mental health. That number increases to 7.5 million people by the age of 25. About one-third of Ontario high school students report moderate to serious levels of psychological distress.Because of multiple variables, including violence and poverty, marginalized youth have significantly greater rates of mental health concerns.?
School, homework, assignments, and tests typically require substantial time, effort and commitment in order to succeed academically. Sometimes this can contribute to a stressful environment and impact sstudent’s mental health. Research shows that although one in four students struggle with mental illness, 40% of them do not ask for help.?
Mental health problems among students are associated with decreased academic performance. They might avoid attending class altogether. .Moreover, students may act differently toward their teachers, peers, and friends resuling in negative social interactions.? Additionally, our capacity to learn, comprehend new ideas, and develop new skills and abilities is directly influenced by our mental health. Mental health can also negatively impact self-esteem resulting in avoidance, lack of effort and giving up.?
We all occasionally go through personal challenges that may cause frustration and interrupt our daily lives. It’s important to have strategies in place to maintain positive mental well-being, especially in times of increased stress. Peers and social networks among students can also play a crucial part in supporting mental health and encouraging those who are struggling to seek help. Increased pro-social behaviour, positive social relations, higher rates of learning, creativity, productivity, enhanced physical health and life expectancy are all linked to high levels of mental health.
Overall, having poor mental health can affect students’ learning and achievements. Without receiving treatment for mental health issues, students may be at risk for suffering a variety of potentially severe and long-lasting effects. Building and developing an environment that enables you to grow, thrive and reach your full potential at work, school and life is the heart of positive mental health.
What Can Affect Students’ Mental Health?
There are many hereditary and environmental factors that can affect students’ mental health. Adolescents may be more vulnerable to mental health issues due to physical, emotional, and social changes, lack of awareness, resistance to seek help and societal stigma. It is important to acknowledge that factors that impact mental health are different for every unique person. We all have different levels of resilience and handle stressors differently.?
With #education, some of the factors that can affect students’ mental health are #school #pressure, getting #goodgrades, #deadlines, #assignments, #exams and #workload. #Students are often and repeatedly evaluated. They are well aware that their #academicperformance can affect their future. In particular, if students are in their final years of school, they understand that their performance could essentially determine their future opportunities. Because of this, some students might see tests and exams as threats because they are worried about not doing well on these evaluations. Some students will develop test anxiety and may struggle with extremely anxious states during exams and preparation. This could lead to #procrastination in studying, intrusive thoughts about the possibility of failing and feelings of self-doubt.
While students are expected to perform well academically, they may also experience pressures from their personal lives. In addition, lack of organization, poor time management, poor sleep schedule, and lack of a support system are also contributing factors. Furthermore, the negative effects of peer pressure, bullying and social media may also impact their mental health.?
Benefits of Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Prioritizing your mental health makes it easier to manage and balance your personal, school and work life. Taking care of your mental health allows you to develop a positive outlook toward yourself and others. It enables you to feel a sense of belonging to your community and helps you find support. Additionally, it leads to involvement in trustworthy and compassionate relationships where warmth and understanding are present.
?Good mental health reduces stress, and anxiety, and increases one’s self-esteem. It allows you to recognize your true potential and gives a heightened sense of purpose. It helps improve relationships as you make time for social interaction with friends and family. Most importantly, taking care of your mental health enables you to better cope with difficult times. You gain an increased ability to handle complex environments and situations.?
?Prioritizing your mental health means knowing when to take a break, rest and reset. This can include setting boundaries and only taking on what you can handle. You recognize the load you can carry and seek support when those loads become overwhelming.?
A strong foundation is the basis of our overall happiness and success. Having positive mental health is a state of well-being that gives us the capacity to balance everyday tasks with desires, interests, and self-awareness. Serenity, acceptance, peace of mind and the enjoyment of life are all indicators of mental wellness.
?The unfortunate truth is that there is no way to escape stress. It’s a part of life; it comes and goes. However, how we deal with stress and how we respond to it is what matters the most. The unhealthy effects of stress can be decreased through relaxation, meditation, and physical activity. Being active, having a balanced diet and learning how to properly manage your stress is essential in trying to strengthen our mental health. When we are in the right headspace, we’re able to enjoy our lives, the environment as well as those around us. We have the capacity to learn, innovate, explore, think creatively, take risks, and try new things. Learning how to appropriately cope with stress can alleviate worry in our minds and bodies.
It is very clear that just about everyone experiences challenges with their (mental) health. There are a variety of factors that can influence our mental health including the pressures and stress of school. Students should continue to educate themselves about mental health, learn strategies to create a healthy lifestyle and seek support. Do not hesitate to seek medical support for your mental health! Prioritizing it will have a positive impact on our life inside and out of the classroom.?
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Our Mission
MyHomeworkRewards prioritizes the importance of mental health. We recognize that #studying should not come at the cost of one’s mental health. Our #personalized homework #tool for #onlinelearning encourages students to work smarter, not harder and assists them in developing healthy study habits.
Many students develop harmful study habits including cramming, staying up all night, spending an excessive amount of time studying, and disregarding their own needs and well-being. At #MyHomeworkRewards, we acknowledge that having good work habits and a stable structure can substantially improve stress levels and overall mental health. We encourage our students to make time to take care of themselves while still fulfilling their goals.
Although learning can sometimes feel demanding and stressful, we strive to create and develop a curriculum that magnifies student success by improving engagement, rewarding good study behaviours and empowering them to accomplish their goals without negatively affecting their quality of life outside of their academics. These habits will promote a healthy lifestyle that they may maintain throughout their lives beyond the classroom.
?Reviewed by: Shawna Alvis, RP at Wellness Alignment
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, know that you are not alone. You can get the support you need to help you thrive, succeed and overcome your challenges. There are many steps you can take, starting right now. We’ve provided a list of resources to help you or a loved one.
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ConnexOntario Helpline: Health services for individuals experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs, mental health and/or gambling
Call: 1-866-531-2600
Website: https://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/
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Wellness Together Canada: Provide resources for mental health and substance use support
Call: 1-866-585-0445
领英推荐
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BounceBack: Free and guided self-help program
Call: 1-866-345-0224
Website: https://bouncebackontario.ca
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Talk Suicide: Support for people who have concerns about suicide
Call: 1-833-456-4566
Website: talksuicide.ca
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Distress and Crisis Ontario: Support those who feel lonely, depressed, and/or suicidal people
Website: https://www.dcontario.org
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Government of Canada Resources:
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html
Young People
Kids Help Phone: Youth mental health support available 24/7
Call: 1-800-668-6868
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Good2Talk: Ontario’s 24/7 helpline for postsecondary students
Call: 1-866-925-5454
Website: https://good2talk.ca/ontario/
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LGBT Youthline Ontario: Ontario-wide peer support for LGBT2Q+ community
Call: 1-800-268-9688
Website: https://www.youthline.ca
Indigenous People
Hope for Wellness Helpline: Mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Call: 1-855-242-3310
Website: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca
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Talk4healing: For Indigenous women
Call: 1-855-554-4325
Website: https://www.beendigen.com