Education & Mental Health...

Not only does September usually mark the end of Summer, but also the start of a new academic year for many students and teachers across the country.

Whether it's at school, college, or university, this period of transition can bring

excitement for some, but at the same time, it can also be a cause for stress and anxiety.

In fact, a government study released back in 2023 found that the proportion of students disclosing a mental health condition at their university has risen rapidly since 2010. Now reaching 5% in the 2020/21 academic year. Meanwhile, NHS data from 2020 showed that 17.6% of secondary school children (aged 11-16) had been identified as having a probable mental health problem, a 5% increase from 12.6% in 2016.

The last few years have, of course, added to many of the pre-existing challenges that surround education, such as homeschooling during the pandemic and then having to adjust back to life in the classroom.

Whilst essential, education can be an overwhelming time for many young people…

Here are some reasons as to why students may be feeling stress or anxiety during these times…

• Academic or financial pressures.

  The pressure to excel academically can be overwhelming. Whether it's revision, coursework, deadlines, or just trying to pass, the stress can weigh heavily on students, especially with the comparisons to other students around them. Additionally, for those at University it also comes with the stress of managing finances for the first time, which, on top of studying, can only add to the stress.

  
  

• Loneliness and isolation

  Going to school, university, or college can often be a lonely experience for some students. Especially for those moving away from home and losing regular contact with many of their old friends from home.

  
  

Like with all aspects of mental health, everyone’s journey is their own and unique, so there may be other reasons and causes to someone’s mental health struggles during education.

Here are some strategies that may make it a little bit easier…

• Talk to someone

Sharing how you feel with a friend, family member, or even a trusted member of staff at school can make a difference. If you are away from home, tools such as Zoom and other social media can help make staying in touch a little bit easier. However, we understand just how difficult taking that first step to talk to someone when we are struggling can be, so do so at your own pace and when you are ready too…

• Having healthy distractions…

Whilst it’s important to dedicate time to your studying and work, it is just as important to make sure you are still finding time to do things that you enjoy. Hobbies and relaxation time matter! This could be anything from going out with friends, reading a book, watching films, or even just going for a walk…

• Set realistic goals and targets

Often, when looking at upcoming projects, revision lists, or coursework, it can feel overwhelming. So why not break them up into smaller blocks and work on them over time? This helps work out a schedule, and instead of overwhelming yourself trying to do it all at once, it's broken up into chunks.

• Prioritising sleep

Keeping a somewhat normal sleeping pattern is so important, even though it might be tempting some nights to stay up into the early hours…

• Seek professional support

If you are struggling to talk to the people around you, there is always the option of seeking professional support. Whether that is through school, local support networks such as charities like us, there are quite a lot of options that will give you safe, judgement-free support.

Whilst many of our projects are 18+, please keep in mind that there is support available for younger people across Staffordshire. The Staffordshire County Council website has some information on some of them... Click here to find out more.

If you’d like to access any of our services or projects, please contact us today…

Get Help Now | Burton & District Mind Safe Haven Crisis Café – open 7 days a week

Email: info@burtonmind.co.uk

Call: 01283 566696