Mental Health Struggles in Students

Across India and the world, more and more students are feeling stressed, anxious, and emotionally tired. In many schools, marks and grades are still the main focus, but behind those report cards, many children are silently struggling. Their emotional well-being is being affected every day, and it’s not just hurting their studies—it could affect their future health and happiness too.

Schools are where children spend most of their time, making them the ideal place to observe emotional and behavioural changes early. Regular mental assessments can help identify stress, anxiety, or other issues before they grow. By supporting mental health in schools, we help students feel safe, understood, and ready to learn.

The Data schools can’t ignore:

Mental health issues among students are rising at an alarming rate, and schools are seeing the impact firsthand.

• According to a 2022 NCERT survey, over 81% of students reported anxiety due to studies, exams, and results.
• As per WHO, globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group.
• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB, 2022) revealed that over 13,000 students died by suicide in India in one year, mostly due to exam pressure and fear of failure.

What are our students facing?

1. Anxiety Disorders

   • Constant worry about marks, peer judgment, or parental expectations.
   • Symptoms: Headaches, stomach pain, restlessness, crying spells.

2. Depression

   • Feeling worthless, losing interest in hobbies, and skipping school.
   • Often masked behind disobedience or laziness.

3. Burnout & Exhaustion

   • Over-scheduling with tuitions, schoolwork, and screen time has left children drained.
   • They may complain of being tired but actually feel emotionally numb.

4. Social Isolation & Screen Addiction

   • Many students, especially post-pandemic, struggle with making friends or expressing feelings.
   • They retreat into phones or video games to escape discomfort.

What can schools do?

It’s important to understand what causes emotional stress and mental health problems in students, and to spot these issues early so that the right help can be given in time. Some signs to look for include a drop in academic performance, missing classes, not taking part in activities, skipping meals often, or avoiding friends. These are just a few examples, and schools can look for other signs too, based on their own observations. Here is a step-wise approach:

1. Create safe places

Mental health starts with creating safe spaces where students can express feelings and be heard without judgment. A quiet room, a listening ear, or a trusted teacher can go a long way.

Creating an inclusive and non-discriminatory environment can help build a mentally healthy community in school.

2. Implement Mental Health Screening

The NCERT mental health recommendations emphasised the need for regular, age- and gender-specific mental health interventions. Just like other checkups, emotional checkups should be routine. Screenings help identify at-risk students early before problems escalate.

3. Appoint or partner with trained school counsellors

For regular counselling, workshops, and parental guidance, schools can seek support from experts. Vigour360 facilitates mental health assessment and counselling by experts.

4. Train teachers to recognise signs

Teachers are the first line of support. With basic mental health training, they can identify red flags and offer sensitive responses.

NCERT guidelines emphasise teacher training so that they can point out mental health issues early.

5. Make wellbeing part of the curriculum

Include life skills, coping techniques, stress management, mindfulness, and peer support programs. Emotional learning should be as essential as any other academic subject.

Mental Health is Academic Health!

Let’s remind ourselves: A student who feels safe, heard, and valued learns better.

It’s not enough to fill their notebooks—we must also nurture their hearts.

How does Vigour360 support mental wellness in schools?

At Vigour360, we offer age-appropriate mental health assessments, student counselling, and parent workshops as part of our School Health Program. We believe a healthy mind is the foundation of a thriving future. Connect Now!