Helping students cope with mental stress

ANOTHER case of attempted suicide – this time a 17-year-old girl, instead of focusing in class, jumped down from the fourth floor of her school. According to reports, she did not succumb to the injuries sustained and is still undergoing medical treatment to save her life.

Stress plays a major role in causing suicide cases to rise. Due to the demanding nature of our education system, the students are constantly under pressure to study hard to do well in their exams.

I hope our Education Minister will accelerate the fostering of stress-free learning for the students. The abolition of exams is indeed the right step forward.

Teachers should use effective methods to educate their charges. Now, especially, with the relentless use of technology, students face myriad distractions, causing them to spend less time studying compared to their predecessors. When they start to burn the midnight oil just before their exams, it could lead to depression and extreme anxiety.

Mental problems among students should be ameliorated to nip the problem in the bud.

School counsellors should take the matter seriously by organising talks on ways to manage stress, depression and anxiety. And teenagers must learn to tackle their problems maturely.

To students and teenagers, remember that life is not a bed of roses. No one is immune to problems. Running away from reality would not help. Instead, you should take the bull by the horns. If you think the problem has far exceeded your ability to tackle it, confide in someone you trust and ask for advice.

I hope all of us will possess fortitude in times of adversity in this new year.