Speaking about mental health may mean many different things to different people, ranging from everyday anxieties and diagnosable disorders to our cognitive, behavioural and emotional well-being. Our mental health affects how we live, our daily interactions with people, our relationships and our physical health. A common characteristic within the broad range of mental health issues is the effect on one’s personality, thought process or social interactions. Most people who experience mental health issues can tackle them or learn to live with them, especially if help is given at an early stage. Circumstances such as stressful situations, depression and anxiety can all affect our mental health. Looking after our mental health, by reaching a balance between life activities, responsibilities and efforts can help us build resilience against mental health issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that “mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders” and that it is a crucial part of our overall health. Mental health is when we as individuals are in a state of well-being where we can realize our abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of our lives, can work productively and can contribute to our communities. To destigmatise mental health issues, it is important to remember that everyone has some risk of developing mental health issues, regardless of our age, sex, income or ethnicity. This is because our mental health is often shaped by our social and financial circumstances, biological factors and lifestyle choices. Mental health symptoms have traditionally been divided into groups called ‘neurotic’ or ‘psychotic’. ‘Neurotic’ refers to symptoms seen as severe forms of our ‘normal’ emotional experiences such as depression, anxiety or panic. The less common ‘psychotic’ symptoms refer to symptoms that interfere with a person’s perception of reality. Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety are very common, with about 1 in 6 reporting these feelings any given week in England.
As a student, feelings of anxiety or depression, or other mental health issues, can be a serious interrupter to your academic career. Mental health issues may affect your energy levels, concentration, optimism, which can all affect your academic performance. According to research, depression could be linked to lower grade point averages as well as linked to dropping out of school. In 2017 The Guardian reported that the number of students dropping out of universities due to mental health issues had trebled in recent years. Sadly this trend seems to continue, as research carried out in 2020 revealed that 1 in 3 students in the UK cited mental health issues as the reason for dropping out of university. The same study found that 1 in 5 students who dropped out suffered from alcohol or drug abuse, which had resulted from their academic struggles. 45% of these participants felt that failing to complete their courses would impact their long-term careers. As noted above, many situations may affect our mental health, and the academic setting is often one full of stress, pressure, and new surroundings. Being able to seek help during studies is often cited as critical in curbing dropouts due to mental health issues. Feeling you have someone to talk to, confide in and trust can be key in being able to continue with your studies.
This is what we are all about at We Are HR. We understand the importance of learner wellbeing and have taken every step we can to make the journey the best it can be for our learners. Our learners are our priority.
Natasia Hieber