Overcoming Academic Stress & Student Mental Health
Board exams are a significant turning point in a student's academic career; thus, it is crucial to address their mental health and well-being. Exam anxiety can wreak havoc with students' health, hindering their concentration and causing maladaptive stress levels. The nature of academic stress is such that it continues to build up over time until it’s overflowing the brim of the cup.
To ensure better mental wellbeing among students, here are a few initiatives that can be practised by the school management throughout the year:
Creating a Conducive Learning Environment: Schools must create a safe environment for students by providing a space for them to discuss their anxieties and concerns in a judgement-free zone. Additionally, schools should ensure that the students are not overburdened with text book learning and are engaged in a happy learning environment, where they can express themselves.
Fostering Happiness Quotient (HQ) in Education: Instead of focusing simply on IQ and EQ, it is important to promote the happiness quotient (HQ) because this not only improves learning outcomes but also creates a friendly atmosphere where students may learn with joy. Happy children are resilient, quick learners, & creative thinkers.
Imbibing Experiential Learning Within the Curriculum: When schools make students fall into the practice of ‘learning by doing’, it results in enhanced student engagement, deeper learning, improved academic outcomes, and enhanced work and life skills. New age learning through internships that promote a project-based learning approach cater to a more student centric pedagogy, maximizing experiential learning for students’ success. Including project-based learning opportunities in and around their curriculum will significantly reduce academic pressure.
21st Century Learning Skills: A crucial component of student’s learning curriculum involves inculcating the 21st century learning skills amidst the young learners, inspiring them by providing them with avant-garde learning platforms that enable discussions with leaders, out-of-box thinkers, and change-makers. The emphasis on 21st-century learning is closely correlated with the lack of intense academic pressure, as these abilities do wonders for boosting kids' self-confidence and self-worth, which serves as a basis for excellent mental health. These skills encourage students to actively explore how to deal with challenges in real life, so preparing them to be more resilient individuals.
Hands-on Learning Through Internships: As per popular belief, the year pertaining to boards is crucial in terms of sheerly dedicating time to self-study. Nevertheless, learning pertaining to internships are imperative to consider, given how they act as a fun learning tool to allow students to get that real-life exposure to areas aligned with their courses of study, without overwhelming them later with the abrupt career pressure.
Parental Involvement: Setting up routine parent-teacher feedback meetings helps ensure that children are emotionally and psychologically stable while studying for their board examinations.
Here are a few tips for the students to maintain their mental wellbeing during boards:
1. Students must dedicate a stipulated amount of time to outdoor games to pump up their endorphins, which act as an immediate stress buster.
2. To prevent constant mood swings and tiredness during exam times, substitute a healthy, balanced diet for junk food and caffeinated beverages.
3. Lack of sleep & an adequate increase in mental health disorders are closely intertwined. Maintaining a healthy sleeping pattern of roughly 7-8 hours per night will reduce study weariness and help students feel rested and revitalised when they return to their studies.
4. Taking timed mock tests will help students maintain their writing pace.
5. In-depth revision of topics will not only pin-point the areas in subjects that need more attention but also help students to be thorough with concepts to avoid last minute anxiety.
6. Schools can promote students' participation in relaxing and stress-relieving activities like yoga and meditation.
At times, students experience extreme bouts of anxiety while dealing with academic pressure. It reaches a point where they refuse to deal with it, for they can no longer cope with it. It is imperative to resort to professional help by qualified counsellors in such scenarios.
Counselling Services
Mental Health Counselling is imperative to consider. Students can learn coping mechanisms and develop resilience by having access to skilled and experienced specialists who can offer them the appropriate guidance and assistance throughout their preparation timeline.
Every Child is Unique
The pressure from peers to succeed in school and develop a job is growing, so it makes sense to want your child to succeed in every way. However, constant nagging and peer pressure can undermine your child's sense of value and sap their enthusiasm and ambition for learning and preparation. Nurturing the existing potential of your kid can further elevate his spirits, motivating him to give his best efforts.
“Your Child is the Best Gift from Almighty. Nurture him to Bring Out the Best in Him”
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