How Students' Mental Health Is Failing Across the Globe

The Silent Crisis: Students’ Mental Health Is Failing Across the Globe and What We Can Do About It ?

GEETHIKA SEWWANDI

Students’ mental health problem is an invisible epidemic that is gradually causing damage in classrooms all over the world.

Students are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, and desperation as a result of social media’s overpowering impact and the pressure to perform academically.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated in 2022 that the primary cause of disability among teenagers globally is currently mental health issues. However, despite the concerning data, mental health continues to be ignored in many school environments, forcing students to deal alone.

The Global Scope of the Crisis: Mental health problems among students are not limited to any one nation or area. According to a 2021 poll conducted in the US, about 60% of college students said they had experienced “overwhelming” anxiety in the previous 12 months.

The severe pressure to excel academically has led to a startling increase in student suicides in nations like South Korea and Japan. One of the main contributing factors to South Korea’s among-the-highest student suicide rates worldwide is academic pressure.

How Students\' Mental Health Is Failing Across the Globe — Image : Powershift

“Beyond the obvious signs students suffer with mental health issues. Reduced academic performance, social disengagement, and a generalized sense of hopelessness are common signs of mental health problems. Students who struggle with depression and anxiety may find it hard to concentrate in class, which can result in an endless cycle of low self-esteem, poor grades, and increased social isolation.”

The Silent Crisis: How Students' Mental Health Is Failing Across the Globe — Image: Powershift

Case Study: The Pressure Cooker of South Korean Education

Extreme pressure on students is a well-known feature of the South Korean educational system. The “Suneung,” the nation’s official college entrance exam, is so difficult that students frequently spend months or even years studying, putting their mental health at risk.

In a startling instance from 2019, a 19-year-old high school student committed himself a few days prior to the test because they could not handle the stress. This tragedy brought attention to the need for institutional change and spurred a national dialogue about South Korean teenagers’ mental health.

The Hidden Impact:

Beyond the obvious signs students suffer with mental health issues. Reduced academic performance, social disengagement, and a generalized sense of hopelessness are common signs of mental health problems. Students who struggle with depression and anxiety may find it hard to concentrate in class, which can result in an endless cycle of low self-esteem, poor grades, and increased social isolation.

The Role of Social Media:

For students, social media has become a double-edged sword.In 2021, a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that 30% of teenage girls reported feeling depressed after spending time on social media. Although technology can serve as a means of communication, it frequently makes mental health problems worse by encouraging a culture of comparison and unreasonable demands.

Students feel inadequate when their lives do not measure up to the well-organized pictures of success, attractiveness, and pleasure shown on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Anxiety, sadness, and loneliness can be worsened by the continual assault of overblown pictures.

Solutions and Hope:

Though the crisis is becoming worse, there are signs of a sense of hope Around the world, educational institutions are beginning to recognize the significance of mental health, and some have put in place support networks to assist students in adjusting.

The University of Oxford in the United Kingdom established “well-being weeks,” during which students can receive counseling, take part in stress-relieving activities, and practice mindfulness. Many colleges in the United States now provide free counseling services and have established peer support groups where students can chat with people who are sympathetic to their struggles.

Example: A University’s Mental Health Initiative

In Canada, McGill University started a mental health program that includes additional funding for counseling services, peer-to-peer assistance, and a 24-hour mental health hotline. In addition to helping students like Michael, a freshman who battled anxiety, feel supported and inspired to seek help, the effort has greatly decreased the stigma associated with mental health.

The mental health of students should no longer be ignored. There is a crisis in the mental health of students around the world, and we need to act. By offering easily accessible tools, encouraging open discussions, and dispelling the stigma, we can establish an empowering atmosphere where students can thrive.

After all, how we handle this issue now will determine how well our future generations fare. By working together, we can provide students with the assistance they need to overcome mental health issues and truly thrive.

GEETHIKA SEWWANDI is from Sri lanka . She is a Software Engineer, AI Enthusiast & Developer, Full Stack Engineer, Web & Mobile Developer, and the Correspondent of Mahabahu from Sri Lanka

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