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Jagpreet
10 December, 2024
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“Educating minds without nurturing hearts leaves a gap; mental health awareness bridges it, empowering individuals to thrive, not just survive”
The WHO estimated in the year 2022 that 4.4% of children in the 10–14 year group struggle with anxiety. Schools are the major platforms to offer support. In India, the suicide rate of students is increasing. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (2024), student suicide rates have increased by 2% annually. Students are facing major panic attacks and anxiety. There is a need to address these growing mental health concerns.
If you’re writing an exam and suddenly everything goes blurry, don’t worry; you’re not alone. If you read about your signs, you would understand that feeling anxious and blurry is part of exam anxiety. Education plays a vital role in understanding these aspects of life. Education is the key to knowing what the first step is. Moreover, it makes us feel like we belong. Schools help us learn and create awareness. Mental health education creates a safe place in schools. Education builds knowledge and offers emotional support. It opens minds. Knowledge helps in understanding, and it creates warmth in the community. Let’s explore education and its role in strengthening mental health awareness. Understand the importance of mental health and how it affects education.
Also read: Why is Mental Health Important and How to Improve it?
According to the WHO, mental health is a state of mental well-being. It enables you to cope with life stress. It is an action that affects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. It affects your daily activities. Good mental health brings resilience, positivity, and a sense of purpose. However, certain mental health concerns are prevalent. These include anxiety, depression, or stress. Many individuals do not speak about mental health. The stigma surrounding mental health is evident in schools and colleges. You might hesitate for help also. This silence is detrimental to your health. It can stop your recovery and growth. It can also lead to the following impacts:
Bodily effects: You may experience bloating, nausea, headaches, fatigue, and chronic stress. These bodily effects result from a disbalance in stress hormones
Daily Life Impacts: Mental health challenges affect everyday activities. You may feel socially drained, dissociated, and isolated.
Social Impacts: There are various stigmas around mental health. It can lead to social withdrawal, misunderstandings, and reduced communication.
Educational Impacts: Mental health problems can lead to a decline in academic performance in school, and struggles with time management can result in poor grades.
Also read: Where Can Men Find Support for Mental Health?
Mental health can only be understood through awareness. Education gives you the power to adopt mental health awareness. You spent your early life in school. Schools are responsible for shaping your habits and building your mindset. You can grow emotionally stronger if an emphasis is laid on emotional intelligence. You can notice changes in yourself when you start working on mental health. You understand the meaning of feelings. You know how to support friends in tough times. This also creates an open culture.
In Family: It is essential to know about mental health. By doing so, you can easily share your feelings, resolve conflicts, and build strong relationships in the family.
In Friends: Mental health awareness is important to empathise with your friends. You can also notice when your friends feel low and want support, strengthening friendships.
In Performance: You become more focused and confident when aware of your mental health. This improves your performance in school, sports, and other activities. You can handle pressure better and get a boost in your life.
In Personal Life: Taking care of mental health as you grow emotionally stronger and become more self-aware is important. You understand your feelings better and manage stress effectively.
Mental health stigma is a result of ignorance and fear. Education has the power to replace this. It can be replaced by knowledge and empathy. For instance, you attend a workshop on the topic “anxiety.” Now, you see anxiety as a challenge and not a flaw. Imagine your school is having a mental health awareness camp. Students are sharing their stories. You realise that you are not alone. There are many more like you. This shared understanding helps in removing shame and promotes a positive mindset.
Here, you can find some examples and approaches to handling mental health stigma.
Workshops on Mental Health Topics: You can attend workshops on mental health to understand it better. Anxiety is normal and can occur sooner or later in life. You have to make it your strength instead of weakness. To overcome this, schools and colleges can organise interactive sessions on mental health awareness.
Storytelling and Peer Support Groups: If any of your friends talk about their mental health struggles, you can get help from other friends and colleagues. Storytelling is the best way to overcome stress.
Mental health is a global concern. It is also included in the school’s curriculum. You may study topics like emotions, stress, and management. You can handle challenges through it.
You know that it’s okay to keep mental health as your priority. Schools can include activities like journaling, yoga, or creative expression. These improve mental health and teach life skills. You become more focused and engaged when you see educational institutions teaching about mental health topics.
Mental Health Awareness Camps: Awareness camps should be held in classrooms so that students can learn about mental health concerns. In these camps, students can share their journeys. Hearing such stories makes you feel that you are not alone, reducing the feeling of isolation.
Including Mental Health Curriculum: Students should be taught about stress and anxiety and how to manage them. This should be a part of the curriculum. In addition to practical instances, it should also be taught as a theory.
Teachers are the first ones to see the signs of mental health struggles. They have an important role. The teacher is the only person in school who can inspire you to speak about your problems. The teacher often notices the students feeling withdrawn. They approach you and ask how you have been. This is a small gesture that can make a big difference. Teachers who are trained in mental health are more effective. They can recognise early stress signs. They create a valuable space. Let’s understand this by example.
Teachers can make a big difference in students’ lives. If you are a teacher, you can teach students about mental health through movies like “Taare Zameen Par.” In the movie, Ishaan is a young boy who is facing dyslexia. However, his family and friends were not able to understand his struggles. His art teacher helped him overcome challenges surrounding mental health. Teachers can create a supportive learning environment, which is essential for a student.
Technology is transforming education, with a significant impact on mental health learning. Online resources are raising awareness among a global audience. Various apps, webinars, and ebooks about mental health exist. Social media is flooded with mental health debates, and many such campaigns also spread awareness. These tools make information accessible and relatable.
However, digital platforms come with risks. It is better to use all online resources sparingly. Cyberbullying is also responsible for unhealthy coping strategies. Education helps you balance technology use. You learn to set boundaries and protect your well-being. Digital education ensures you stay informed while maintaining a healthy relationship with technology. Programmes like “DIKSHA” offer digital resources. There are recorded yoga sessions for students. It promotes mindfulness and mental relaxation.
But when do we seek help? Many of us wonder the signs when we must take a step for ourselves. As parents, we may not recognise that our child is going through a battle. Here are a few signs that indicate the unnoticed struggle:
As a student, you may feel anxious and stressed. You can be stressed about your exam results, family conflicts, or friendships. Some of the common signs are:
Sleep disturbances – Trouble sleeping or oversleeping.
Mood swings – Sudden changes in mood or irritability.
Lack of concentration – Difficulty focusing on tasks.
Physical issues – Headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue.
Social withdrawal – Avoiding friends and social activities.
Change in appetite – Eating too much or too little.
Negative thoughts – Feelings of hopelessness or self-doubt.
As a parent, you can look out for these signs in your child:
Withdrawal from activities – Avoiding hobbies or social events.
Sudden mood changes – Irritability, anger, or sadness.
Sleep issues – Insomnia or excessive sleeping.
Appetite changes – Eating too much or too little.
Drop in academic performance – Decline in grades or interest in studies.
Physical complaints – Frequent headaches or stomach aches.
Social isolation – Avoiding friends or family interactions.
Here are some of the steps that you as a student, parent, or teacher can do for better mental health:
Open Communication: You must encourage your child to discuss their feelings.
Be Patient and Supportive: Show understanding and empathy.
Watch for Triggers: You should be aware of what might be contributing to their stress or anxiety.
Encourage Professional Help: Get help from a counsellor or therapist.
Promote Healthy Habits: Support activities like exercise, hobbies, and healthy eating.
Create a Safe Environment: Make your home a place where your children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.
The Indian government is imperative to promote mental health through education. The following are the key initiatives:
Manodarpan Initiative: The Ministry of Education launched this initiative, which provides psychosocial support for students, teachers, and families. It has a dedicated web page offering guidelines, videos, posters, FAQs, and a toll-free helpline.
NCERT Counselling Services: In 2020, NCERT started offering free counselling services through 270 professionals across India. There are live interactive sessions on SAHYOG: Guidance for Mental Wellbeing of Children. Recorded videos on Yoga are telecast through 12 DTH TV channels. This is a major step in handling stress and anxiety.
Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Programme: This programme combines mental health education with school curriculums. It includes specific modules on emotional well-being. The major aim is to build awareness and reduce stigma.
Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK): This programme was launched in 2014. It addresses emotional and psychological concerns through school-based initiatives and peer education. The objective of this programme is to enhance mental health.
Mental health awareness in education is growing around the world. Governments and organisations are coming forward to support this movement. For example, the United Kingdom has made mental health education mandatory in schools. India has introduced schemes and programmes that support mental health in schools.
Schools play a key role in mental health support at the European level. This importance is reflected in various initiatives and policies in Europe. One such initiative is the Child and Adolescent Mental Health in the Enlarged EU (CAMHEE). This project promotes knowledge exchange and learning across European states and aims to support evidence-based practices in mental health care. Other countries are following these with similar initiatives.
These are important efforts towards mental health. Mental health should be inculcated in schools. They help spread more awareness about mental health activities. Mental health is now a universal priority.
It is important to promote mental health awareness in your school. These include:
Starting Conversations: You should encourage open dialogue about mental health with friends and teachers.
Organising Events: Host awareness campaigns, workshops, or seminars on mental health topics.
Creating Safe Spaces: Clubs should be established where students may feel comfortable sharing their feelings.
Encouraging Mindfulness: Mindfulness activities should be promoted in schools. Examples include yoga, meditation, and journaling.
Advocating for Training: Suggest mental health training for teachers and staff. Seminars and training camps should be organised so that teachers can impart that knowledge to students.
Education is a powerful aspect. It helps strengthen mental health awareness. Moreover, knowledge is more than learning. It often breaks the stigma. It also builds understanding and supports others. This journey involves all school and community characters, including teachers and parents. However, you create a healthy society if you prioritise mental health. You induce yourself and your peers to face challenges in life. Always remember that knowledge is strength, and awareness is the first step towards change. Together, we can ensure that mental health is a part of education. This creates a brighter, more compassionate future for all.
