Mental health refers to an individual’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It has a dramatic impact on how people think, feel, and communicate with others. As much as physical health is important for a person’s life, so is mental health, from birth and youth to adulthood and ageing. Transitioning from high school to college marks a significant milestone in a child’s life. It starts with greater freedom, academic hurdles, and a quest for personal identity. While college life offers great prospects, it also has its share of challenges that can harm students’ mental health and well-being. To combat this, schools and institutions must foster a culture of love and implement certain methods for their students.
Ensuring Student Wellbeing
As per a survey by TimelyMD conducted in 2023, 50% of college students in India stated that their mental health challenges account maximum towards stress. In addition to it, 71% of students admitted struggling with challenges like depression, stress and anxiety. Considering such statistics, education leaders and faculties must foster campus cultures that prioritise students’ well-being. Universities that prioritise student welfare may help boost academic performance, retention, and graduation rates. Usually, students with a strong feeling of well-being and belonging are more motivated, have more self-confidence, and achieve more.
Here are some ways universities can consider to make their campuses better for students’ mental health and well-being:
- Raising Awareness: Faculty leaders can reduce obstacles to students’ access to mental health services by organising student outreach and peer-to-peer activities. This will assist them in engaging in talks to better understand and support one another’s needs. Furthermore, it will increase awareness of mental health among participants.
- Wellbeing Culture: Universities should hire counsellors to address the mental health crises of students. This will help them in stress management, preventing downstream issues and coping with behavioural challenges.
- Promoting Services: Universities need to promote their well-being resources and services to students through emails, applications, student portals or even prospectus. This will help students in realising the options available to them.
- Staff Training: Teachers stand at the front line who interact with the students and solve their problems. Conducting staff training on mental health lessons for students can assist teachers in providing required solutions to their students’ mental health challenges.
- Consistent Surveys: Mental Health assessments and surveys should be conducted by the faculties for wellbeing checks of students. For instance, simple quizzes can be emailed to students to determine their stress levels while learning what methods and techniques can work for their betterment.
With the aforementioned ways, universities can help students in seeking the relevant help they need- when they need it. Student mental health must be prioritised in higher education for a variety of reasons, including improved academic performance, suicide prevention, and increased retention. When deciding which higher education institutions to attend, students may examine what mental health facilities the university provides. Therefore, universities and colleges need to frame their student welfare policies considering their mental health and wellbeing as priorities.
Article Credits – Dr K. S. Jagannatha Rao,
Pro-Chancellor, KL Deemed to be University
