In recent years, India has seen an increase in student suicides, exam-induced anxiety, and other mental health difficulties. With academic pressure growing on students, it is past time to recognize that depression and anxiety among students are not isolated incidents, but rather a painful reality that requires a quick response.
According to a poll done by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), academics are the primary source of worry and stress for 81% of students in India. 49% of students claimed that studies and academics give them worry, while the remaining 28% expressed significant stress levels during test and result season.
In India, the pressure to achieve in school and get good marks is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, this stress frequently leads to a decline in students’ mental health, which can manifest as other mental health disorders such as depression. While it is important to recognize that academic pressure is not the only cause of mental health problems, it is undeniably one of the most significant contributors.
Furthermore, prolonged levels of anxiety and stress in students, if undiagnosed or ignored, can have serious consequences. According to studies, greater pressure to do well can lead to a drop in students’ academic performance, resulting in a vicious cycle of bad grades, low self-esteem, and mental health concerns.
Recent student suicides in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat show the urgent need for the school system to prioritise students’ mental health. After the Inter results were announced, nine cases of student suicides were reported in Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, a student at Gujarat’s Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) committed himself, increasing the total number of such deaths to almost 3,000 in the previous five years.
It is past time for the educational system to address the issue of student mental health and put in place support services to help students cope with academic pressure. Counselling services, mental health awareness programmes, and stress management approaches are examples of such initiatives.
Friends, parents, and teachers must also recognise early indicators of mental health illnesses and create a supportive atmosphere for pupils. The stigma associated with mental health must be addressed, and students should be allowed to communicate their mental health issues without fear of being judged or shunned.
Let’s go through five signs of anxiety in youngsters that you should be aware of. Anxiety and depression are two frequent mental health issues that can damage students’ academic performance, social interactions, and general well-being.
According to the American Psychological Association, depression is a “negative affective state ranging from unhappiness and discontent to an extreme feeling of sadness, pessimism, and despondency that interferes with daily life.”
Many students have reported a sharp decline in mental health in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with anxiety attacks and, in some cases, depressive episodes. It is critical to be aware of the symptoms of anxiety and depression in students so that these diseases can be identified early and treated appropriately.
Here are few signs that can help identify anxiety in youngsters:
Emotional Changes
When a pupil is anxious, emotional changes are a typical symptom. They may feel anxious, tense, or irritated. At times, the learner may feel restless. Anxiety might even lead to students acting out. Constant worrying, overpowering thoughts, illogical anxieties about ordinary tasks, low self-esteem, continual anxiousness, and so on are instances of emotional alterations.
Disrupted Sleep Cycle
To operate effectively, kids must obtain at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night. Anxiety frequently affects sleeping patterns, causing the youngster to miss out on sleep as a result of their worries, and nightmares. On the other side, if the youngster is sleeping a lot more than normal, it might be an indication of mental health problems.
Physical Changes
When students are anxious, they may exhibit physical changes as well. When students are worried, they frequently report headaches, dizziness, upset stomachs, increased perspiration, and other symptoms.
Panic Attacks
While panic attacks are a sign of panic disorder, some students may feel panic to varying degrees, while others may not. If the kid has shaken hands, tremors, heavy sweating, chest discomfort, or difficulty breathing but otherwise looks to be healthy, they may be having a panic attack.
Presuming the Worst
Assuming the worst is another symptom of anxiousness among students. Anxiety can drive pupils to have persistent negative thoughts, leading them to constantly assume the worst-case situation. Academic stress, result stress, and exams can also be possible triggers for such pupils, since they may believe they will fail or do poorly.
The surge in student suicides and mental health concerns in India must be seen as a major concern. We must endeavour to provide a supportive atmosphere in which youngsters may thrive intellectually without jeopardising their mental health. With the correct assistance and tools, we can help students navigate academic pressure while also ensuring that their mental health is not jeopardised. It is crucial to emphasize that unrecognized or untreated anxiety in young individuals can result in a deterioration of their mental health and even more severe consequences.