The ManicaPost
Dr Machinga
THERE are various definitions of mental health. According to World Health Organisation, mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to contribute to his or her community.
WHO stresses that mental health “is not just the absence of mental disorder”. Mental health is the foundation for individual well-being and the effective functioning of a family and community. If this is the case, does mental health impact academic achievement in school? Yes, it does.
As students begin the new school term of the year, it is important to acknowledge the role that mental health plays toward school performance and success. As parents and schools, we expect our children to be focused and perform well in school. This is very important since in this modern world and economy, getting some form of formal education has become an increasingly important component of human living. It is a well-known factor that mental health affects students’ academic outcomes. Mental health helps a student to realize her/his true potentials, capable of handling pressure and stress, and more importantly, to perform the given tasks productively. In this article, I will talk about the impact of depression, anxiety and stress on student’s performance.
Studies have found out that students who struggle with these mental health problems perform less well in school and attain lower levels of education than other students. In fact, a wealth of research findings indicate that student academic performance is affected by mental health problems. Some environments that student see themselves in cause depression, anxiety and chronic stress.
Depression
Depression may involve feelings of sadness weakness, frustration, low levels of mood, desperation, helpless and hopelessness They are dissatisfied with anything happens around them.
Most students with depressive symptoms do not perform well in academic achievement because the students are not motivated and not daring to do anything to realize their aims. Furthermore, those depressed students tend to think negatively and do not attempt to achieve their target.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a physiological disorder associated with significant distress and impairment of function. Effects of anxiety symptoms perceived as a threat that affects health physical could be high heartbeat, headaches, insomnia and behavioural changes. Specifically, students who suffer from anxiety disorder often do not perform well in lives and academics. In order to deal with this problem, parents, caregivers as well as schools play a vital role in ensuring the mental health of the students is in tiptop condition.
Stress
Stress is a commonproblem that is oftenexperienced by everyone indaily life.From a positive perspective, stress may bring about a favorable impact as stress can be perceived as a beneficial agent that motivates and encourages an individual to move forward. But excess stress is detrimental to wellbeing and can affect a student’s success in school and life.
Substance Abuse
Substance and alcohol abuse, is significantly associated with disruption of one learning process, failure to attend school. Someone can be suspended or expelled from school. Substance abuse may lead to at risk behaviours such as violence and unprotected sex.
Yes, poor mental health can impact on school success and academic achievement. What should be done? As parents and caregivers, we need to see to it that our students get help.
A student should be assisted basing on what the student is suffering from. Is it depression, anxiety, substance abuse or stress. The first step is to determine what behaviour problems need to be addressed. You get help from your primary doctor, or mental health professional. As a parent, you can also assist by doing the following:
1.Limit attention to depressive episodes, reinforce actioning e.g. participating in activities.
2.Help the student verbalise depressive thoughts. Create a space where students can share what they are experiencing.
3.Help students to concentrate on solutions, positive coping skills and set goals.
4.Help students to monitor their behaviour (self-monitoring and watching their behaviour)
5.Teach the student to use affirmations. Affirmations involve saying positive things about oneself.
6.Help students to engage in constructive pleasurable activities that prevent or diffuse negative thoughts.
7.Make students engage in small attainable goals and have him/her self- monitor progress to notice change. Help them change their negative thoughts and feelings to positive ones by redirecting their thoughts to pleasant experiences.
8.Teachcoping and change skills. Children can be taught to be aware of depressive feelings and thoughts as they occur. If you can’t help them why not refer your child to a professional counsellor or psychotherapist. I hope the strategies above will help you to offer support to a student suffering from depression. In next article, I will talk about how we can support a student suffering from some form of anxiety.
Dr Mazvita Machinga Ph.D is a psychotherapist from Mutare . Can be contacted at 0778 838410, 0771 754 519 Email : [email protected]
