Introduction The issue of mental health and wellbeing has become one of the most important topics of discussion and research in the world today. With the increase in activity, exponential developments and advancements in technology, physical and mental strain and stress, competition, the constantly changing dynamics of family and society and various other such factors, there are a number of reasons as to why an individual's mental wellbeing might be affected. The concept of mental health and wellbeing is rather wide in terms of all it encompasses, and thus can be studied in parts. In this essay, the focus has been laid on maintaining and managing mental health and wellbeing in the higher education sector - pertaining mainly to students, but …show more content…
For instance, Ryff (1989; Ryff & Singer 1996) suggested six basic dimensions for measurement of positive mental health - self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, autonomy, positive relations with others and environmental mastery. Various other units of measurement are used in order to determine the status of one's mental health. The major issue with these tools and methods is that there is rarely any consensus regarding which ones apply and which do not. Since there are a number of different factors - including demographic, biological, psychological, social, environmental and even economic ones which affect the mental health and wellbeing of people across the globe, it is difficult to incorporate all the given aspects into a single, holistic theory that is not only comprehensive but also has a practical aspect associated with it, such that it can be used in order to identify and treat mental health issues and promote awareness regarding the same as well. There does, however, seem to be a great deal of focus on the "psychosocial" aspect of mental health and wellbeing in current times, wherein it has been proposed that individual psychological profiles, along with various social facets, tend to play a very important role in impacting the phenomenon under consideration (Barry …show more content…
These include high-risk professions such as the armed forces, or high-trauma-inducing ones such as nursing in the more extreme terms, and international student status, adolescence oriented issues, and other such points in the more common ones (Jones & Johnson 2000; Zhou et al. 2008). A great degree of emphasis is laid on mental health and wellbeing in the adolescent or young adulthood years, since these are the formative years of an individual's life, and tend to determine how they would turn out as adults (Hunt & Eisenberg 2010; Viner et al. 2012). Thus, just like childhood, stress can cause a great deal of mental health damage to adolescents, while a positive environment and treatment from others can offer a positive impact. While there certainly are other factors involved, mental health and wellbeing in higher education institutes have become essential for this very reason. The amount of stress adolescents face today, especially given the pressure to perform academically as well as in extracurricular activities, the high levels of competition and the need to excel, create a negative environment for them, especially if the parents, tutors or guidance providers are not careful with the way they treat them (Fisher 1994). The aspect of "fitting in" and
Is adolescence really about fitting in or not standing out? Do you have any responsibility to those students who do not fit in? Do you hear that? Hush, and listen closely. Do you hear it now? The cries for help of the kids who don’t fit in with the crowd. The cries aren’t always loud. Sometimes they don’t make a sound. Stop and listen to them. Take responsibility for those kids and stand up for those kids who won’t stand up for themselves.
Society's understanding of mental health has been revolutionized in recent decades. There has been increased research directed towards mental health, greater support for those who are affected, and a better understanding of it by the general public. In this current generation, mental illnesses are now viewed as serious conditions that need to be properly treated. Mental health is a vital component of an individual's well-being and how he or she is able to cope with the difficulties of life. When challenges arise, mental state is critical to overcoming those challenges.
Mental Wellness is a topic that many were almost completely silent about until very recently. However, in recent years it has become more and more discussed and - as a result of the fast paced, technology driven lives most college students are living - mental health issues have become more prevalent. For these reasons, Mental Wellness is a topic with lots of newsworthy stories. Institutions, like SU, are now in a position where they must respond to the fact that mental health issue are a serious issue on campus. Students are more eager than ever to talk about mental wellness and break the stigma. Studies are being conducted all over regarding
Over the course of a lifetime, one experiences a multitude of thoughts and emotions. Collectively, these thoughts and emotions relate to one another as they affect one’s mental health and well-being. According to the Oxford University Summer School program, “mental health refers to the psychological and the emotional well-being of an individual” (Mental Health). When one does not have a positive mental health state they struggle in quite a few areas. These areas involve coping, positivity, personal connections, expressing emotions properly, and their personal belief towards their value in society. One can cause a rift in relationships they have with others and can further deteriorate their mental health and overall well-being when they do not
The policy analysis is based on the increasing numbers of cases on mental health issues in college and university campuses. The topic is supported by evidential data collected from various studies and peer-reviewed articles that show the statistical prevalence of the most common forms of mental health issues seen among the students, which shows that the prevalence rate is ever-increasing. The methodologies recommended for implementation include increased availability of resources and facilitating the accessibility of these resources through overcoming barriers. Some policy options have been suggested for consideration and recommendations have been made accordingly. The fiscal impact has also been considered and suggestions
Most popular kids engage in a school sport which makes them well known and liked throughout their social atmosphere, not only by their peers, but by their teachers as well. Many outcast do not engage in these acts of physical teams like sports, but rather in other institutions such as a culture, theater, and various academic clubs. These tend to be labeled “uncool” and separate these kids from other students. Their “abnormal” interests, that vary from the conventional athletics, can make them looked down upon and questioned by others. Having these preferable extracurricular activities is normal, yet these kids tend to be misunderstood by the jocks who don’t have a particular preference to these clubs. Based on the same survey from stageoflife.com, interests are the second leading cause of teens feeling inferior to their peers at 49% (stageoflife.com). Also, “63% of teens say that their appearance is an important factor in their identity” (stageoflife.com). Kids feel that their ability in activities causes them to subordinate to others. Teens are often judged for these interests which should not happen since their enjoyments are irrelevant to popularity
National Health Ministries (2006). Stress & The College Student. The University of Illinois at Chicago. http://www.uic.edu/depts/wellctr/docs/Stress%20and%20the%20College%20Student.pdf
Many students on a college campus experience stress, depression, or being overwhelmed and rarely seek mental health services on campus. A study was done at a large, highly competitive, public research university, to see how many students experience any of these things and to see how many actually use their available resources (Laven, A.). Studies found that most of these students who experienced these emotional situations tended to have lower grade point averages; however, they indicated that their problems were not serious enough, they had never used the available resources on campus, and they generally knew very little about the resources on campus (Laven, A.). Although many of the freshmen indicated that they would rather turn to friends or family for advice, if the problem is persistent and affects one’s daily life, campus resources should be used.
According to the C.D.C ( Centers for Disease Control) the term mental health is commonly used in reference to mental illness. However, knowledge in the field has advanced to a level that completely separates the two terminologies. But even so mental health and mental illness are indeed in fact related, they represent different psychological state of mind with in a person. Mental health refers to our physical and emotional well being. Mental health is mainly all about how we behave, interact, and think. It c...
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2011, mental health is a state of well-being in which every person recognizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her or his own community. Moreover, there is no health without mental health. On the other hand, mental illness has become a significant worldwide health issue in recent years; more than 450 million people suffer from mental disorders (WHO, 2010).
Young adolescents can be described as ages 10-15 years old, but it is also considered that adolescence continues until the age of 25. During this time in an adolescent’s life, there are many internal and external factors that affect the development of each individual. The influence that an adolescent’s peers, parents, and community have on them can be conflicting and therefore cause stress. Trying to meet the expectations of others during a time where one is going through so many forms of physical, psychological, and cognitive development can be challenging for a middle school aged student. They are expected to focus on their education and the expectations of other outside influences while their bodies grow and develop into an adult body.
As it has been proven, students and depression across campuses are becoming more common daily, and it must be taken as a serious matter. There are many causes that result in depression, such as personal stress and academic stress. This severely influences a student’s life and can bring about extreme negative outcomes like suicide or eating disorders. Luckily, there are cures for this major issue. Counseling centers and mentors in the classroom and in residence halls can impact a student’s overall well-being and attitude towards his or her daily life. Depression, in conclusion, is an extremely dangerous mental illness that, if not cured with the correct treatments, could become detrimental to students across the globe.
In general, mental health has been defined as multifaceted based on six dimensions behavioral, cognitive, socio-political, effective, spiritual and psychological. In addition, mental health comprise of spiritual and emotional resilience that help an individual to continue surviving after sadness, disappointments and pains have occurred(Thomas, 2016). However, mental illness in refers to a mental health problem that involves the changes in
Our society today does not value our mental health like it should. If society would only pay as much attention to mental health, they would be better off in the long run. Think about an athlete playing a sport, they certainly understand how important physical health is. When a baseball player injures his knee, he is out and waits until it heals. But like many people, mental health is overlooked. Most teenagers do not realize that the many things like stress or eating disorders are coming from a poor mental state. They think that if they just ignore it they will snap out of it, this is not true and many times this kind of thinking will only make it worse (Change Your Mind). Mental health is not seen as important as physical health due to misconceptions and stigma behind mental health patients. By increasing the importance of personal mental health, people can reduce issues associated with mental health problems and raise awareness for people who suffer from mental health issues.
Are the new standards and expectations the world has for teenagers really creating monsters? The amount of stress that is put on students these days between trying to balance school, homework, extra curricular activities, social lives, sleep and a healthy lifestyle is being considered a health epidemic (Palmer, 2005). Students are obsessing over getting the grades that are expected of them to please those that push them, and in return, lose sleep and give up other aspects of their lives that are important to them, such as time with friends and family, as well as activities that they enjoy. The stress that they endure from the pressures of parents, teachers, colleges, and peers has many physical as well as mental effects on every student, some more harmful than others. The extreme pressure on students to get perfect grades so that they will be accepted into a college has diminished the concept of actually learning and has left the art of “financing the system” in order to succeed in its place (Palmer, 2005).