What Impact Does Contemporary Education Have On The Mental Health Of Students?
The majority are aware of the elevated expectations placed on students today. However, not everyone understands the significant stress this creates and its impact on their overall mental well-being. Even high school students may struggle with managing several subjects simultaneously. While some students may thrive, it often comes at a considerable cost.
Distress Due to the Lack of Sleep
Every student, including those in nursing programs, has likely spent a night without sleep trying to study for a test, prepare for an examination, or complete an essay. Such circumstances are virtually unavoidable for college or university students, and even high school students frequently encounter them. While some students, when faced with nursing assignments, might ask for a nursing paper writing service or plead, “do my essay for me fast,” and opt to pay for essays, this doesn’t necessarily guarantee sufficient sleep or leisure time because they still have other tasks to accomplish.
Sleeping approximately four hours is insufficient for the human body to operate thoroughly. While it might seem tolerable, one’s bodily reserves are not infinite. Moreover, this could potentially lead to a detrimental cycle.
- Stress triggers anxiety.
- Even when there isn’t much to do, anxiety can prevent someone from getting sleep.
- The lack of sleep adds to the stress.
Insomnia
Everyone at some stage yearns for a good night’s sleep. This often happens when sleeplessness hits and disrupts all your plans. Initially, you end up calculating the remaining hours left for sleep, then you manage to get a couple of hours of sleep, followed by the sound of the alarm clock. This kind of sleep pattern pops up occasionally, and it’s not something to worry about.
Yet, a collapse becomes entirely plausible if this behavior continues for weeks, months, or even years without any effort to rectify it. At times, your brain may protect your mind from accepting reality — the unease keeps you awake at night and allows you to work, study, or just stay awake to binge-watch TV shows.
Low Level of Socializing
Being overwhelmed with multiple tasks, assignments, and daily duties leaves little time for social interaction. The simplest method to maintain regular communication with someone is to reside on campus and occasionally converse with fellow students.
High-school students striving solely for A’s to gain admission into a prestigious college or university may lack this chance, implying that their communication abilities may deteriorate before they reach the campus. This scenario is bound to affect their future socializing skills adversely.
Emotional State is Influenced by Energy-Increasing Compounds.
It’s well-known that numerous students consume cognitive-enhancing drugs and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Students in dire need of an energy boost will often utilize whatever resources they can to stay awake for an extra hour and complete their tasks. For example, staying up all night to study before an exam is a typical practice.
At times, its effectiveness can be remarkable. However, your body might resist a substance’s impact in the best-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, the scales may be tipped by side effects, leading to potential physical and mental health issues. Common problems such as mood shifts and irritability usually subside after consuming another dose of the selected enhancer.
A Time-Bomb Mind
The stress students experience may initially be overlooked. Nonetheless, if not appropriately managed, this strain continues to grow and can lead to extreme actions, impulsive choices, and poor judgments regarding different scenarios.
Feeling overwhelmed can make even the most minor matter seem insurmountable. This could ultimately result in overly drastic decisions that negate all your previous efforts. Indeed, seemingly insignificant troubles could eventually cause someone to give up entirely.
Is It All Fault of an Education System?
Not entirely. The world has imposed as much pressure as the sectors of our lives linked to education and professional development. The ideas of consumerism and merit-based achievement have flourished for a considerable period, and these pervasive trends inevitably impact all other aspects of our lives, including the workings of the educational system.
However, some education models don’t place too much stress on the students. A prime example would be Finland, where students have a study period of less than seven months per year. Also, education in Finland is entirely free, eliminating the need for most students to juggle work and studies or fret over accumulating debts. Therefore, there are alternative methods to structure learning.
Ways to Shield Yourself From This Impact
Those unable to challenge current educational norms must instead cultivate resilience to stress. This involves identifying one’s authentic values and making decisions based on these, rather than conforming to societal expectations. Even the most challenging journeys may feel effortless when one is in harmony with one’s self and mind. Therefore, prioritize self-care and don’t overlook the importance of mental health.