Student
mental health has become a major concern for the parents, as many institutions
struggle to provide adequate support for the students in need. As the chairman
of the prestigious Kings International Medical academy, Dr David K Pillai
works with several hundred young aspiring medical students each year who are
struggling with issues related to mental health. “Given the recent challenges
of online learning and the uncertain future of higher education, we must take
steps to prevent new mental health problems and recognize those that are
increasing among the young aspirants,” adds Dr. David K Pillai.
Dr.
David K Pillai the renowned educationist suggests different ways through which
one can help prevent mental health problems in students.
Anxiety-related to exam
preparations
According
to Dr. David K Pillai the chairman of Kings International Medical academy,
Students experience a lot of pressure to perform academically. However, what
some students may not realize is that the stress they feel can result in mental
health issues. Dr. David Pillai added that some stress is normal and expected.
It’s what helps us meet deadlines and motivate the students to study for exams.
But when the stress becomes too much, it can lead to serious implications on
their mental health.
Many
students tend to over-prepare for exams, which can lead to excessive worry
about their performance during the actual test. If you’re feeling anxious about
your upcoming exams doesn’t cram say, Dr. David K Pillai.
Dr.
Pillai further added that starting studying early for the examination will help
the students to stay away from the stress. This will also give them more time
to look over any difficult concepts they might be having trouble understanding.
Irritability and mood swings.
“The
most common signs of mental health problems include irritability and sudden
shifts in moods. Mood swings can be caused due to several reasons including
exam pressure, loneliness, lack of confidence, and much more. If you observe
such behavior in your child, make them talk about it and try to find out the
exact reason behind their actions. Avoid being critical as it can make them
feel worse and be patient with them so that they do not stop talking mid-way
through their conversation with you” says Dr. David K Pillai.
Increased screen time
Dr.
David K Pillai says that another big cause of rising mental health issues in
students due to the Covid-19 pandemic is increased screen time, whether it’s
for online classes or entertainment. Multiple studies show that increased
social media and screen time can contribute to anxiety, low moods, sleep
deprivation, low self-esteem, etc.
Moreover,
today’s generation is also exposed to cyberbullying and peer pressures on
social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. This leads them to feel
socially rejected or excluded which further leads to low self-esteem and
anxiety issues. Another side effect of increased screen time in students is
sleep deprivation. When students spend all day looking at screens, they can
become overstimulated. This makes it harder for them to relax and fall asleep
when they finally go to bed, says Dr. David K Pillai.
Dr.
David K Pillai being in the field of medical education for more than 20 years,
he expresses that it is important to create boundaries and limit the amount of
screen time daily. Also, ensure you take regular breaks from the screen by
getting up and stretching every 20 minutes and taking a 10-minute walk at least
twice a day. Do what works best for you. And so parents need to keep an eye on
how much time their children spend behind screens.
How does KIMA concentrate on its
student’s mental health?
As
Kings International Medical academy is headed by the leading educationist Dr.
David K Pillai further stated that Medical studies demand sleepless nights and
rigorous training, which can be intellectually challenging. Staying motivated
throughout the journey is, hence, imperative. We engage students in sports and
other co-curricular activities to develop and hone their specialized skills.
Dr. Pillai added that at KIMA they even organize regular yoga sessions for
students to overcome all the health problems.
Dr. David K Pillai said that the entire education system must ensure that our students get plenty of recreational time to de-stress themselves. It is also important to educate children about mental health problems so that they can easily recognize the symptoms and seek help at the earliest. "Educating parents about mental health issues will also help them understand their child better," Dr. Pillai added.