Why Is Mental Health Important for Students?

 Why Is Mental Health Important for Students?

Mental illness is a severe issue caused by numerous factors, such as stress. And, most often than not, students can experience mental illness. While students are expected to do well and graduate, they are also facing many pressures in their personal lives.

They encounter college stress when adapting their life to a new environment and new social circles and also lack time for their family and friends. At that moment, they may be unable to handle the pressure from school and home. They have worries about their grades in school and generally about their future careers.

Mental Health: What Is It?

Mental health is an umbrella term for the health of the mind, brain, and emotions. It’s a complex topic that touches many aspects of life. It is also a term used to describe someone’s emotional state. Mental health explains how a person thinks and feels about their life.

Someone with good mental health can usually cope with stress and has good self-esteem and relationships with others. They can make choices based on what they want rather than what they must do. Mental health problems are more common than you might think, but there are many things people can do to improve their mental well-being.

What Causes Poor Mental Health?

Mental health affects how we feel, think and behave and can include emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is essential for everybody, but it is necessary for students. This is because of the unique stresses and challenges that come with being a student, such as stress from academic work, social pressures, and financial concerns.

The following are some of the leading causes of poor mental health in students:

• Depression. Depression is a mood disorder in which a person feels sad or down most of the time. Symptoms include fatigue, low energy, irritability, and lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed.
• Anxiety. Anxiety disorders involve feelings of worry or fear that are out of proportion to the threat or danger of a situation. People with anxiety may feel nervous even when there is no reason to be afraid. They may also experience physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, or nausea.
• Eating disorders. Eating disorders are characterized by abnormal eating habits that can cause serious health problems.
• Drug abuse. Drugs can affect different people, but they all change how your brain works. This can lead to problems with memory and learning even after you stop taking drugs. People who have substance use disorders often need specialized treatment programs to help them stop using substances and begin living healthy lives.
• Alcohol abuse. Binge drinking can lead to serious health problems like heart disease and liver disease and short-term effects like memory loss and blackouts. Students who binge drink also have a higher chance of becoming addicted to alcohol later in life. But that’s not the end; they can be helped by evidence-based practices and integrative therapies offered by theheightstreatment.com and live sober. The center offers a residential treatment program for alcohol abuse. It also offers outpatient counseling services for adolescents who are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
• Lack of exercise and physical activity. It’s a significant contributor to poor mental health. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress. This is because it releases endorphins. These are chemicals in the brain that make you feel happy and reduce levels of stress hormones like cortisol.

Mental health problems affect everyone differently, and it’s impossible to predict who will develop them. However, there are some common signs that someone might need help:

• Feeling low or depressed for several weeks or longer
• Having physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches that could be caused by stress rather than something else
• Finding it hard to concentrate on things you usually find easy

Importance of Mental Health for Students

If your mental health isn’t good, this can affect how well you do at school. But if your mental health is good, it may make school easier for you. Here are some ways that having good mental health can help students succeed:

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Scientific research on how Social Media affects your mental health.

There’s no doubt that social media is a huge factor that can dictate the way in which we live our day-to-day life.

While a few years ago, before the smartphone era, we couldn’t even imagine our lives being driven by a handful of applications, nowadays some of our biggest fears lie within the number of likes and shares our photos receive.

Positive Aspects of Social Media

Most studies show that social media can have its benefits and advantages, which we’re all familiar with. Surely, most people that use social media are acquainted with the ecstatic feeling you get when you achieve a certain number of likes or shares on a photo, when you end up having somewhat of a viral video, or just even when you find yourself making new friends.

Moreover, social media is a great tool for quickly learning new things. You have access to an immense variety of information – you just have to be careful with what you choose to believe.

King University created an interesting paper about why we post on social media, including reasons such as self-actualization, feeling safe, and fulfilling our psychological needs.

Social media apps also represent a workplace for a lot of youngsters. Influencers or people who work in marketing/public relations or just people with an inclination towards digital marketing can actually earn a more than decent salary from these apps.

However, have you ever thought about the negative sides of it? How does using all these apps affect you in an unfavorable way?

Negative Aspects of social media

Creating habits around using social media can also be harmful to one’s mental health. Spending too much time on social media can have a pretty big impact in the long run.

A huge benefit social media has, is that it allows us to get in touch with old friends and have constant updates on how they’re doing. We can also find people that inspire us, which we decide to follow, and why not, copy some of their habits.

That being said, there is a thin line between getting our inspiration from various celebrities/influencers and starting to actually compare ourselves with them. Numerous studies and research show that this is where toxicity can occur, and this is where social media can unravel its darker side.

Body Image Issues

We often find ourselves checking posts and photos and think “I wish I looked like that”, or “I wish I could also go there/do that”. Along with these thoughts comes the tendency to beat ourselves up and give ourselves a hard time, with toxic thoughts and behaviors.

How often have you watched fitness influencers telling you what you should and should not eat? How many times have you thought “They are always eating right, how come I’m not able to do it?” Or just the general “What’s wrong with me?” question, after jumping to the conclusion that someone is doing better than you, just after seeing one of their posts.

As you can imagine, these thoughts can and will impact your daily life. These are the kinds of thoughts that slowly dissolve your self-confidence and start raising all sorts of irrelevant questions and doubts about your own self.

A study made by Claremont McKenna College states that body dissatisfaction and disordered thoughts generated by social media often lead to serious eating disorders. Young women are desperate to raise the body image standards set by influencers, which is impossible to achieve, so they start developing eating disorders.

Toxic Positivity

Another common issue that comes with the usage of social media is toxic positivity. We’ve arrived in a place where it feels almost forbidden to have bad days.

Everywhere you turn your head around, you’ll see an inspirational quote, maybe also attached to a photo that’s supposed to motivate you.

As humans we are, we are more than allowed to also have bad days. Just like in the world of fitness it is advised and perfectly normal to have a “cheat meal” from time to time, you are allowed to also have bad days in your everyday life.

While it is absolutely normal to not be in the mood to eat healthily, work out and be productive every day, some of the most famous influencers choose to promote the opposite of this – they seem like they have it all together, at any given time, which is practically impossible.

Social Media’s Impact on Teenagers

A study created by The International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering brings up another interesting topic: the impact social media has on teens and growing adults. Most teens nowadays suffer from body image issues.

They spent a lot of their time looking up to all kinds of people that tend to promote unrealistic body standards. Young people grow up thinking that they should look a certain way, even if, in most cases, models and influencers alter their photos to enhance certain aspects.

Losing Track of Time

Besides that, social media is also a big distraction. Parents can have a really hard time getting their kids out of their rooms, where they get stuck to their screens.

However, it’s not just about parents and children. For example, as a student, I can pay someone to do my assignment, just so I can spend that time browsing through social media and making sure I’m not missing out on anything that’s going on online.

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Continue Reading: https://insightscare.com/scientific-research-on-how-social-medial-affects-your-mental-health/.

How To Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions For Happiness And Success.

New year, new you. A new year is like a blank journal; the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself and begin a fresh chapter in your life. All the mistakes of the previous 12 months shall be forgotten and buried to give rise to the new you. 

And so, you create a list of all the aspirations that will make this new life chapter a wonderful adventure. And yet, after a few months, those new year’s resolutions are left unfinished or completely forgotten. To achieve all your goals and experience true change, you should set resolutions that truly resonate with your needs, and get a strong dose of motivation and willpower.

Why do we make New Year’s resolutions?

Humanity’s need for making New Year’s resolutions is nothing new. About 4000 years ago, the ancient Babylonians were the first civilization on record to hold celebrations. During mid-March, when the crops were planted, Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning monarch. It was also a time for making promises to the gods so as not to fall out of their divine favors.

In 46 B.C., a similar tradition took place in Rome after Julius Caesar declared January 1 as the beginning of the new year. This was in honor of Janus, the two-faced god of new beginnings, doorways, and archers. Believing that Janus looked back into the previous years and ahead into the future, the Romans offered sacrifices and made promises of good behavior to the deity for the upcoming year.

A bit further in time, early Christians would spend the first day of the new year reflecting on past mistakes and thinking about how to do better in the future. Nowadays, many people, regardless of religious or spiritual backgrounds, make resolutions to themselves for self-improvement and the promise of a brighter future.

We just want to be happier

For some people, New Year’s resolutions are a matter of tradition. Others are drawn to this little ritual for the allure of starting from scratch. Most human beings have a natural tendency towards self-improvement and New Year, although an arbitrary day, provides us with a goal date to prepare our plans and get ourselves into the right mindset. According to psychiatrist Glenn E. Miller, M.D., “the fact that so many people keep making resolutions year after year, even when they do not, or cannot, always follow through on them, indicates they have hope and a certain level of belief in their ability to facilitate change, becoming more of who they truly want to be.” This urgency for change responds to our inner desire of being happier; achieving the kind of life we believe we deserve.

Why New Year’s resolutions fail

Despite our pursuit of change, the detailed to-do lists, and the personal promise that this will be the year, resolutions are usually doomed to fail. According to a survey by the Statistic Brain Research Institute, about 91% of people don’t achieve their New Year’s resolutions. No matter the intensity of our determination, keeping the same level of enthusiasm and commitment throughout the next 12 months is tough work.

A few weeks into the new year, we become entangled by life’s many responsibilities and stressors. Inevitably, we lose track or even forget about all those goals we set. This, of course, is just a summary of the real problem. Motivation scientist and author Catherine Pulsifer believes New Year’s resolutions fail because “they are only a statement, or what we wish for in the coming year. There are usually no action plans, no deadlines, no backup plans. Sometimes they are unrealistic resolutions, with no other thought or plans besides the statement.”

As the saying goes, it’s not the horse that draws the cart, it’s the oats. It’s not the gym or cardio sessions that will help you get in shape, it’s your motivation and the strength of your willpower. Good motivation and willpower will help you overcome the obstacles to achieving your goals. They will also encourage you to take all the necessary steps and build up the discipline to make a real difference in this new life chapter.

How to achieve your New Year’s resolutions

1. Choose the right WHYS

When you decide you want to eat healthily to lose weight, that might not be the right way — it is an incomplete statement. Think about why losing weight is a priority; how it will be beneficial for your health, how following a balanced diet will change your life positively. This is much more important than you think. As described by sustainable behavior change scientist and author Michelle Segar, whys or motivators “are the reasons for making those resolutions in the first place.” In other words, these “are the foundation of the entire behavior change process and have a domino effect.”

Motivation, after all, is the fuel of your actions. The strength of your motivation will eventually determine whether your resolutions are achieved, abandoned, or completely forgotten. Of course, waiting for motivation to knock at your door is easier than actually allowing that motivation in. After all, boredom, resignation, lack of discipline, and self-sabotage are part of human nature and motivation’s biggest enemies.

2. Set manageable goals

The “go big or go home” mentality doesn’t apply here; it is one of the main reasons why New Year’s resolutions are forgotten or never completed. The best thing to do is to start small and slowly make your way up to the top so you don’t feel overwhelmed. For example, instead of giving up desserts for good, try adding more fruit to your diet and progressively shortening your candy supplies as the weeks go by. Breaking down your resolutions into reasonable steps will make the tasks less intimidating.

3. Take it a week at a time

Avoid having multiple resolutions or resolutions you can’t fully commit to. While some resolutions are quite simple — like drinking three or four glasses of water per day — learning a new language, for example, demands more significant changes to your routine. You might need to enroll in a course or engage with learning resources regularly; schedule a time to practice what you learned, and assess your progress.

According to Ian Newby-Clark, Ph.D., a psychologist at the University of Guelph in Canada, people struggle with the willpower to commit to ambitious resolutions such as weight loss or language learning on top of simpler tasks. “It would take too much attention and vigilance to do all that and also decide it’s time to brush your teeth for the full two minutes and become better informed about world events,” says Newby-Clark.

So, take it a week at a time, don’t try to accomplish more than what you know you can. This doesn’t mean you should forget your resolutions, but rather, you should remember that you have 365 days to manage them. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a break from your goals and resume them once you have the time or the right mindset to go on.

4. Share with the world

Don’t be shy! Be open about your resolutions with your friends and family. The American Psychological Association recommends that you join a support group to reach your goals, such as a workout class at your gym or a group of coworkers quitting smoking.

Having somebody else to share your challenges and successes will make the journey much easier and less intimidating. Most importantly, you will get an extra dose of motivation to keep going whenever you feel your willpower slacking.

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Read on: https://insightscare.com/how-to-achieve-your-new-years-resolutions-for-happiness-and-success/.

Healing from Within.

When you have a problem, getting help is a sign of courage, not weakness or failure – Academy Award-winning actor Ben Affleck.

The actor made this statement after he recovered from substance abuse years ago, giving a strong message to all those who are addicted to some of the other vices or are suffering from a mental health issue.

One of the major public health problems, today is depression. It set in long before the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic and the resultant isolation only triggered it further. Substance abuse on the other hand can be traced to the last century.

While it is natural to feel sad or experience other negative emotions at times, if it lingers consistently for a prolonged period, then it spells trouble and calls for professional help. Generally, it is advised that if such feelings continue for two weeks, the person should seek professional help. Unfortunately, we neglect our mental health the most. Overcoming substance abuse essentially requires professional help lest it manifests once again.

Realizing the bevy of harmful effects that drug and alcohol abuse bring with them, they need to establish rehab centers assumed paramount importance. There are rehabilitation centers for the aged, handicapped, serious illness, injury, and surgery as well. Some rehabilitation centers are also gender-specific.

The quantum leap in the number of depression-related cases also gave rise to various new avenues for sharing and getting the congestion off one’s chest. Vent Friends, for instance, is a new concept that helps the depressed person to vent out feelings to someone who is unknown to them but is patient and non-judgmental. However, these solutions can resolve the issues only if addressed in the primary stages. The severe cases need professional help from rehabilitation centers designed especially for people with mental problems and alcohol or substance abuse.

Whether you are battling with substance or alcohol abuse or are a patient with mental disorders or medical issues, rehab centers can help you bounce back to normal living.

Realizing that there is a problem is the first step. Once this has been realized seeking professional help is the second step. Rehab centers treat patients with customized plans, to give back the quality of life through trained therapists, counselors, nurses, volunteers.

When a person goes to a rehabilitation center, a customized plan is prepared for treatment based on the discussion with him/her and the history of the patient. This is followed by medication, therapy, counseling, group discussions, etc. Discussing similar experiences with peers, sharing problems help in motivating one to get healed knowing that he/she is not alone. And group motivation helps in positive outcomes of the treatment.

A holistic approach towards the entire rehabilitation process goes a long way in treating the patient successfully. Patients’ willpower and family support are equally important to achieve long-term solutions.

There are many rehab centers that have excellent infrastructure to soothe the troubled minds of the patients in addition to experienced therapists. Providing the right ambiance and counseling the patients towards normalcy are the prime objectives of these centers.

We at Insights Care, handpicked few such rehabilitation centers that are doing yeoman service in healing alcohol and substance abusers, mental health patients, and those with medical issues. Read to learn more about these centers in our latest edition – 10Most Promising Rehabilitation Centers to Watch in 2021.

Have a great read.

Mental Illness among Children – A Bad Behavior or a Serious Problem?

Yes, you have read it right. It may not be a bad behavior of children, but it can be a mental illness. Hence, spotting various signs of mental illness among children has become an essential task for parents. Though, mental health disorders are common and bulging/rising at a high rate in young children, a number of children are not getting the right help they need. For this, parents need to keep their eyes open and trace even the slightest of the mental illness symptoms and bring their children to the concerning doctors.

A recent study estimated that approximate 8 million children nationwide have at least one mental health disorder. The reasons for this inconsistency can be very extensive. It has also been surveyed that a lot of parents fail to recognize certain behaviors as a true symptom of mental illness. Even if the parents could recognize, they worry about their children being getting labeled with a mental diagnosis that will follow them through their childhood or adolescence. Also, financial concerns may arise regarding the treatment process. This fear among the parents prevents them from presenting the real issue to the child practitioners.

To analyze these issues parents should detect their symptoms or early signs.

Rectify the Issues at an Early Stage

Child psychologists suggest that mental health concerns should be caught as early as possible. Parents should focus on tracking their children’s activities, identifying issues, working on them, before these issues become a disaster.

Signs of Mental Illness

Child psychologist says that there may be numerous signs among children that reflect mental illness:

• Mood Swings:

If your child’s sadness or withdrawal lasts for at least two weeks or he/she has severe mood swings affecting relationships at home or school, it is the right time to take a consultation.

• Facing difficulties in concentrating:

Look if your child is not able to concentrate or to sit still, both of which may lead to poor performance in school.

• Self-destructive behavior or Physical Harm:

Sometimes, unstable mental condition leads to self-harm. In this behavior, a child has a tendency of harming their own body, such as burning or cutting themselves. Children with a mental health condition also might commit suicide or can develop suicidal thoughts.

It also includes drastic changes in behavior or personality and dangerous or out-of-control behavior. Fighting repeatedly, that too using weapons, and wanting to badly hurt others are warning signs.

• Various Physical symptoms:

It subsumes frequent headaches, loss in appetite, stomach-aches, weight loss or gain, eating disorders, or more.

• Over-anxiety and over-fear:

Check for your child’s feelings of overwhelming fear for no reason. Be it sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing or worries or fears that would directly or indirectly interfere with the routine activities.

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The Sad Prejudice of Fat-shaming

Sitting in the waiting area of a clinic was a girl, suffering from obesity syndrome. She looked flushed. Not because of the hustle she had to go through to get in the chair, but because of the embarrassment brought upon her by all the judgmental eyes around. Surprisingly, joining the audience was the compounder, and a well-trained one at that. This, for us, is a normal scenario. Everywhere we go, the stigma of fat-shaming exists. And what is worse, some people even do it openly. Not only has it harmed the mental health of numerous people, but has also made their physical conditions worse.

The Contradictory Study

Some people think that through fat-shaming they can push obese people to lose weight and concentrate on the fitness. But, according to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, this actually has an opposite effect. In this study, 159 people underwent a survey where they were asked about how negative they feel about being obese or fat. The results of this study indicated that the people who felt more embarrassed and negative about their weight were actually more prone to the diseases related to obesity. Explaining the reason behind this, the lead researcher of this study said, “When people feel shamed because of their weight, they are more likely to avoid exercise and consume more calories to cope with this stress. In this study, we identified a significant relationship between the internalization of weight bias and having a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, which is a marker of poor health.”

Existing Stigma

Well, having this bubble broken, the world should be today moving towards finding the practices that would actually help. The real problem starts with the bias around weight. Since ages, we have been glorifying slim body types, through movies, shows, magazines, and many more. This has been done to an extent where our mentality is molded according to it. ‘Obesity is just a disease and not a personal problem’- people, including a large number of doctors, have failed to understand this. A wide array of environmental and biological factors contributes in this disease. With risks to so many diseases increased due to obesity, this is a serious concern. Adding to this are the mental health concerns that come with it.

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