Why We Shouldn’t Overlook Students’ Mental Health
We should take the issue of students’ mental health into consideration because many factors can cause various issues in mental health such as triggering anxiety, depression, and/or getting burned out. Many social factors can also put a toll on a student’s mental health by making them feel lonely and depressed. Some students may cope with these problems by indulging in dangerous substances like alcohol and drugs. They might even result in self-harm or not eating well.
Are Students Getting Too Much Work?
It’s found by the Stanford Graduate School of Education that students get extravagant piles of homework making them have to do excessive hours of more schoolwork that is causing them to build up more stress and other physical health problems like headaches and sleep deprivation from staying up too late. Overall, it seems that students spend too much time on homework, and it looks to do more harm than good as they are not getting much out of their social lives.
Is School Affecting a Student’s Sleep?
Everyone has a tough time getting out of bed on an early school morning. This can make students drowsy. How will they be able to work properly? Sleep is very important to our lives and is one of our basic necessities. It’s crazy to think that 7 of 10 students don’t get the recommended amount of sleep which is 8 – 10 hours (this is according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). American schools can start as early as 7am in the morning and end at 2pm in the afternoon. Not only can this be a pain for students, but it can also be a hassle for parents, as some may have to wake up earlier than usual to drive their kids to school every weekday. These hours can affect a student’s sleep schedule because teenagers tend to sleep in on the weekends which can mess up their sleep schedule. Some may even take naps after school late in the afternoon which can make it harder for them to fall asleep at night, leaving a student to wake up drowsy or eventually become sleep deprived.
(Picture of a girl with piles of homework.)
What Can Schools Do?
Schools can help with this issue by taking the time to talk about safe and healthy coping methods such as stress relief strategies, eating healthy foods, exercising, and so on. Schools should consider requiring a student to complete a class that educates students about the importance of mental health and how to keep it healthy. Teachers should also consider making due dates more flexible to students and try to avoid including too much work that can overwhelm a student. Late work should also be accepted with little to no consequence. Finally, counselors should be more available for students who need help with their mental health.
What Should Students Do?
There are various strategies to try when school gets tough. Students can always seek health advice from professionals which can sometimes be available in schools (see list below). Some schools even offer services that check up on students to check on their well-being and determine whether they need additional services or not. Some students find talking to friends or family will momentarily soothe them. If you are a student who feels like too many things are piling up and everything is too overwhelming, please consider seeking professional help if things get too difficult or reach out to a friend or family member.
Mental Health Resources for Students:
Hazel Health (NEW Free Mental Health/Counseling)
If you are experiencing stress, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm call Teen Link at 866-TEENLINK (866-833-6546) and ask to talk to a peer. The phone line is open 6 p.m.– 10 p.m. and chat is available 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. daily. https://www.teenlink.org/
Sources:
https://mountainheightsacademy.org/how-school-affects-mental-health-understanding-the-impac
https://www.acmh-mi.org/get-help/navigating/problems-at-school/
https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2022/08/22/new-california-school-start-times-allow-kids-more-sleep/
https://www.aaastateofplay.com/the-average-school-start-times-in-every-state/
Picture Source:
(https://www.k12dive.com/news/schools-need-additional-strategies-for-addressing-students-mental-health/518880/)
