VeryWell Mind: Lingering Mental Health Challenges Are Affecting Gen Z in the Classroom
"The vast majority of schools returned to in-person learning this year. Experts nationwide believed that businesses and travel opening up, returning to face-to-face learning, and lessening COVID restrictions would improve kids’ mental health. But according to a new survey focused on the mental health of Gen Z students, so far, this hasn't been the case.
Isolation, being disconnected socially, persistent COVID safety restrictions, and the stress of everyday life still severely impact adolescents. The survey, put together by Quizlet, a learning platform, found that 57% of the respondents said their mental health was the same or even worse than last school year.
Mental health issues impact their learning and educational process. The study findings highlight the need to understand the problems adolescents are facing, and the need to provide mental health treatment and resources for them.
The Mental Health Concerns of Gen Z
The online survey was given to students in the United States in April 2022.
The survey produced some sobering results regarding kids’ mental health. It showed that the impact of the COVID pandemic still lingers. More than 60% of the participants said they deal with anxiety, while 47% have issues with depression. Loneliness is a problem for 49% of the youth, and 55% struggle with feeling overwhelmed.
Those challenges are taking a toll on Gen Z’s educational experience, with 95% saying mental health affects their schoolwork. Almost 90% of students doing remote learning say their mental health affects their studies. Almost 80% of students who are attending classes in person say their mental health impacts their schoolwork.
More than 50% of public schools say they have mental health assessment programs for students.Many schools also have resources available to help students cope.
Finding Solutions
Being aware of circumstances that add to the stress and concern students have is a step in the right direction. The impact of social distancing and a lack of togetherness is a good place to start.
The stress of academics, pressure to perform athletically, emerging COVID-19 variants, international conflict, politics, family situations, and a host of other factors play a part in the tension students are feeling. Parents, friends, and family need to know what signs to look out for to know when someone is struggling mentally.
What do you do when you see the signs? Seek out resources. Your child’s school, therapists, and support groups can help. Meditation apps and mindfulness exercises can be beneficial. There are also ways to counter some of the negative impact mental health problems have on learning. Those can include the least likely answer—taking a break from it all.
Ultimately, taking care of your mental health should be no different than going to the doctor for your annual checkup."
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#School #Covid19 #MentalHealth #Stress #Anxiety
@comfortableNight4463 I honestly believe we are in a mental health epidemic right now and our kids are struggling the most. With the pandemic and everything else going on in the world, how could they not struggle? It's horrible to watch how much these kids struggle and I don't think we are doing enough as a society to help them. Things need to change. I appreciate you sharing this!
@fruityPond7887 Thank you! I agree. It's so unfortunate. Kids deserve to be stress-free and I think when parents don't manage their stress effectively, it tends to affect the children since they pick up emotions from their parents sometimes.
@comfortableNight4463 I agree! Children pick up on emotions a lot more than we give them credit for! I also think that parents and schools don't effectively teach on how to deal with these emotions, so kids aren't prepared when they are forced to deal with tough times. We should be teaching preventative measures, not reactive ones.
@fruityPond7887 Exactly! I wish they taught children how to deal with emotions in school. It might have benefitted me as a child.
@comfortableNight4463 Yeah I think I would have too. I think the older generations of teachers (and I was in Catholic school lol) were kind of just "get over it" and I'm hoping the younger teachers are a little kinder and more empathetic. Allowing the children to work through their emotions teaches them that it's okay to feel different ways!
@fruityPond7887 Well-said! My parents have that 'get over it' mindset and that's what was expected of me as a kid too. I think it might have been because mental health was probably a taboo those days and if anyone shows signs or symptoms of mental illness, they might have very judgmental opinions.
@comfortableNight4463 Yeah I totally get that and while it may not be the most acceptable perspective, I do understand that it's hard to break out of generational habits. If people are raised a certain way, it can take a long time to think differently.
@fruityPond7887 Exactly!