Mental health in students has been an important yet overlooked topic over the years in Australia. According to statistics, an estimated amount of 560,000 Australian children and adolescents face at least one mental health problem each year, with 278,000 and 112,000 experiencing illnesses such as anxiety and depression respectively. As such, the need for mental health services for students has become increasingly prevalent since we live in times that can challenge our thoughts and trigger our emotions.
In our modern day and age, it seems to be common for students to exert tremendous pressure on themselves to produce and achieve results. However, this act of exertion might take a toll on their mental health and cause them to experience academic burnout, which can work against their current studying efforts.
If you know of students struggling in their learning and academic performance but are unsure of how to help them, continue to stick to the end of this article as we dig deep into what you could consider.
What is Academic Burnout?
Academic burnout, or study burnout, occurs when a student displays a lack of motivation and disinterest in their studies. This could be due to their current mental health state or the inability to cope with their overwhelming study workload, causing them to experience being in low spirits and lethargy.
If academic burnout continues to prolong without being addressed, it can backfire on a student and cause them to score undesirable grades.
As such, it is important to always ensure that each student receives the emotional support that they deserve from those around them as these pillars of strength play a huge role in the state of their mental health and willingness to achieve good grades.
In addition, receiving support from their educators or parental figures can shape their outlook on education and the amount of effort they invest in order to achieve desirable outcomes for their education.
What is the Importance of Student Mental Health?
There is no doubt that our mental health plays a pivotal role in the success of anything that we aim to achieve in life, and that includes a student’s academic learning. While increased studying leads to better grades, a large portion of a student’s success can be attributed to their current emotional well-being.
This explains the need for schools or higher learning institutions to offer resources that support the student’s mental health. Having these tools set in place would help to boost student’s confidence and morale, improve their relationship with their peers, as well as allow them to see better academic results.
How is Student Mental Health Linked to Learning & Academic Performance?
Understanding the need to have healthy emotional well-being in students is crucial as they progress with their everyday struggles. However, for students who might be facing mental health issues, they might experience unfavourable outcomes such as:
- The inability to make and keep friends
- Missing out on important lessons as a result of skipping school
- The inability to stay focused during key topics discussed
- Facing suspension as a result of playing truant or getting into trouble
- Poor grades
When a student is not in the right frame of mind due to an issue they might be struggling with, it can affect all other aspects of their lives including their learning & academic performance. As such, it is always important to be aware of your student’s current emotions and mental well-being by encouraging them to speak to a trusted source or a counsellor who has completed a Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health. This would help them to express their concerns and worries in a safe, non-judgemental space.
How Can Schools Promote Mental Health Care?
For most students, their school can be seen as their second home since they spend most of their week on campus. With that in mind, schools could consider having mental health tools and resources that are readily available for students to be of better support to their emotional needs. Here are some things that schools could consider:
Provide students with basic mental health knowledge
Students tend to neglect the importance of their peers around them since they spend most of their week around them. However, peer support is crucial in the emotional and mental well-being of any individual as it provides us with a non-judgmental, safe space for us to express our feelings regarding issues that affect us. As such, it is important to provide students with basic mental health training so they are better equipped on how to react during unexpected situations. This could include active listening as well as having a positive and encouraging two-way conversation.
Having a wellness centre on campus
Wellness centres are key to a student’s emotional and mental well-being as they can act as a shelter for students to seek emotional strength and refuge during trying times. As such, wellness centres must conduct regular check-in sessions with students, encourage them to practice self-care and hold activities that allow them to better connect with their peers.
Provide parents with updates
Every parent’s worry lies within their child. However, children or students fail to realise that their parents care about them a lot more than they think. As a result, this can prevent them from revealing details regarding their personal life and other mental health concerns they might be experiencing. In this case, schools can step in and provide parents with updates regarding their child’s mental health. Having supportive parents and creating healthy boundaries can provide students with the peace of mind and support they need to get through challenging times.
Be Aware of Your Students’ Mental Health
A student can face mental health issues for a number of reasons. These reasons are caused by different factors, which could be detrimental to a student’s development if they are left untreated or unaddressed. As such, it is always important to check in with your students about their current well-being. Reaching out regularly can go a long way in their mental health, which can improve their learning & academic performance.
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This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Web Oracle.
