When a child has a high fever, he/she is rushed to a doctor and given medication. On the other hand, if he/she is behaving oddly or does not sleep well, should parents be concerned? Yes! Parents often forget that if societal pressure and expectations in this fast-paced world can take a toll on students’ physical health, it can equally affect, if not more, their mental health too. The initial step is to educate on these challenges so that with early detection, many risks can be mitigated.
1. Depression
It is normal to feel a little nervous and anxious before an important test or presentation. But when the emotional responses become extreme and go out of control so much that everyday life is affected, it stops being “just a state of mind”.
Depression can be caused by trauma, isolation, family history, or any other reason.
Symptoms:
- Irritability or Anger
- Loss of motivation and lack of energy to do regular work
- Low self-esteem and pessimism
- Irregular eating-sleeping patterns
- Difficulty in concentrating and remembering
- The deep sense of sadness
- Suicidal tendency
2. Anxiety and stress
When students experience constant anxiety that obstructs day-to-day activities, unreasonable fears, and obsessions, sudden attacks of panic, some kind of trauma or irrational fear, anxiety and self-consciousness, they may be suffering from a severe case of stress.
Symptoms:
- Visible panic attacks
- Continual stress or guilt
- Extreme discomfort in social settings
- Constant fear of failure
3. Eating disorder
Eating disorders in the form of anorexia (refusing adequate intake of food for the fear of becoming fat), bulimia (over-eating followed by forceful vomiting) and binge eating can affect not only a student’s academics but also lead to life-threatening health issues.
Symptoms:
- Fear of being over-weight
- Feelings of helplessness
- Anxiety disorders
- Low self-esteem
4. Sleeping disorder
Most common of the mental health challenges, sleep disorders directly affect the students’ behavior and performance. It is necessary for a school-going child or a teen to get at least 7 – 8 hours of sleep, lack of which, characterized by irregular and poor quality sleeping patterns, can result in serious health problems.
Symptoms:
- Trouble sleeping
- Sleep-walking
- Constant nightmares
- Daytime drowsiness
- Frequent napping during the day
- Constant movements while sleeping
Seek professional help
Winmore has an active Counselling Department on the campus that extends support to students who might be facing any of these challenges. Regular awareness sessions are conducted stressing the dictum, ‘Mental Health before Anything Else’.
Waste no time in seeking professional help, once you recognize the symptoms. In addition to therapy and medications, embracing healthy food and sleeping habits, exercising, meditation, engaging in creative outlets or hobbies, talking to peers and journaling can augment the healing process.
Student life involves facing challenges personally and academically which help them grow, but mental health challenges do not need to make it harder for them. With the timely support of family and teachers, they can overcome it.