Which is World Stress Awareness Month?

By Shruti Sharma

Be it a student or an adult, every individual has a set of stresses. To raise awareness about the causes and cures of stress, the month of April is observed as the ‘World Stress Awareness Month.’ It is the time when people are encouraged to have an open conversation with each other on the impact of stress on their lives.

As a student, I too have the pressure of maintaining good grades and participating in extracurricular activities. This is what I realised much later until I began to experience burnout. Then, I understood the importance of prioritising my mental health. Today, I can say that I am in a better place to discuss how it impacts a student’s performance in school and why students have more mental issues than before.

So, what is Mental Health? It refers to a person’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and behave. The question that arises is, how does a student’s mental health impact performance in school? What many are unaware of, is that a student’s mental health plays a very role as it can lead to lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating and low self-esteem.

As students deal with such issues, it becomes challenging for them to focus on their studies. Naturally, the result is lower grades and a lack of interest in school work. Often, students feel overwhelmed and I’m sure a lot of us must have felt at some point or the other.

Another important factor that contributes to stress is technology. We are constantly exposed to the ‘fake perfection’ portrayed on the internet. What it does, is that it makes it easier for us to compare ourselves to others. It allows us to believe that we are not good enough, resulting in inadequacy and dissatisfaction.

So what can we do about this? The first thing is to realise that it is okay to not feel mentally good every day. And secondly, if you are feeling low, do not be ashamed to voice it. Ask for support and seek professional guidance as soon as possible.