Positive mental health for students

There’s no limit to the number of stressors young people, and students specifically, take on as they move through, and into, new phases of their life. 

PhD researchers from the University of Calgary shared in The Conversation this week, five ways students can foster positive mental health at university:

• Show yourself empathy and compassion,
• Re-connect or get connected,
• Recognise when you’re struggling,
• Make use of mental health services available,
• Practice self-care and do things you enjoy.

Mental health remains a key concern for the wellbeing and development of all young people. Exploring new social, academic, and extra-curricular pursuits brings with it a set of unique challenges, and for many young people, university and further study signals their first foray into independence – as they commit to their future and make these choices for themselves.

In Australia, around 20% of young people aged 11 to 17 have experienced either high or very high levels of psychological distress (AIHW, 2020). Adolescence is also a peak time for the emergence of mental illnesses, with around 50% of diagnosable adult mental health problems having onset before the age of 14 (AJGP, 2018). Sadly, suicide also remains a leading cause of death for young people.

When there are so many mental health pressures that already exist, we should be solidifying attitudes ensuring no one, and students in particular, are taking on more than they should.

The practice of Mental Health First Aid is the practice of knowing that some things, like a person’s mental health and wellbeing, are always more important. Preventative training, like Mental Health First Aid, teaches skills to not only recognise when someone may be dealing with a crisis, but also skills that can empower people to prioritise their wellbeing before it becomes an issue.

“Life Moves Pretty Fast. If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.”

Fostering positive mental health means empowering young people to navigate very avoidable hurdles to their wellbeing, regardless of societal pressures, parental expectations, or personal doubts.

An important token of Mental Health First Aid training is listening without judgement, and indeed, many other tenets of Teen and Youth training are echoed in the advice to Show yourself empathy and compassion, as written in The Conversation.

“If you found yourself feeling unmotivated and stressed during the pandemic, you are not alone. Many students struggled with mental health concerns prior to, and during, the pandemic.

During tough times, being understanding, empathetic and practising self-compassion can improve your mental health.

This means approaching upsetting emotions without judgment, rather than ignoring them, and showing yourself care instead of criticism. These practices can improve your mood and help you cope.

Similarly, when friends and loved ones need support, there are ways to show them empathy and compassion. This might involve listening to them without judgement and validating their feelings,” writes Jenney Zhu, Elisabeth Bailin Xie, and Sheri Madigan.

The mental health problems faced by young people are complex. Families, schools, communities, and health systems, all have a role to play in supporting and protecting young people so that they can live safe and happy lives and reach their full potential. Learn more about how Teen Mental Health First Aid is empowering young people.

Learn more about the Teen MHFA Program 

The MHFA Engagement Teams are here to support schools and community groups at any stage of their MHFA training journey. To get in touch, email schools@mhfa.com.au.

To learn more about the Teen MHFA Program more broadly or to book a Teen MHFA Instructor, click the button below.