Kamal Ghorui
The learning systems in India have never followed a linear trajectory. Social expectations have always enabled transformation in how most educational institutes operate in the country.Back in the 80s, the learning systems in India were mostly based on predictability and administrative consistency. There was hardly any scope for the imagination to play out. Changes in learning were then shaped by forces like economic survival and technological advancement in the 90s.
As we moved towards the 20s, the focus in learning shifted to class and cultural consciousness. The result was the mobilisation of the middle class.And finally, after the great pandemic of 2020, we started talking about mental health and more self developmental issues.As of now, mental health has become one of the strongest forces transforming the realm of learning in India.The current state of mental health among learnersIt isn’t uncommon to hear pragmatic solutions to tackle mental health challenges in the newer generation of learners. More play time, less social media interaction and others are just a few examples. Partially true, but somehow an easy way out to deflect the real systemic problems that are instrumental in causing them in the first place.Children suffering from mental health challenges aren’t exceptional. Also, mental health problems aren’t limited to specific classes or strata of the society. Research shows the negative outcomes associated with poor mental health are widespread and evenly distributed among different sections of the society.Despite awareness, the educational systems in the country have not been able to catch up with what the theorists already know. They are slow to acknowledge and even slower to implement changes.
8 key factors affecting mental health among learners
The following are some factors affecting mental health among leaners:
Academic competitiveness
The evaluation of academic competency in learning systems, both government and private, islargely tied to numbers. While efficient, it narrows down the scope of individual competency and holistic assessments. This is enabling learners to chase high percentiles.
Social media competitiveness
The competition is not limited to classrooms alone. Achievements are also being quantified on digital spaces. Apart from pressure in the school or college, learners have to compete for attention on these virtual spaces. The core fear is not to face social exclusion.
Financial stress
Economic uncertainty is a reality for most households in India. Since learners come from varied economic strata of society, lack of resources and guidance can negatively impact their relationship with learning.
Unrealised expectations
When a parent’s expectations go beyond the threshold of the ability that a child can execute, feelings of inadequacy and failure become a core part of the learner’s personality.
Technology
Information explosion has significantly affected the mental mechanism of processing knowledge.The rampant spread of technology, specifically the internet, social media & phones, the amount of time one spends peering into a screen has significantly affected the memory span of the learners, causing attention deficits and emotional dysregulation.
Limited emotional literacy
Identifying and articulating our emotions is a skill that is only now beginning to take root within our educational institutions. The lack of healthy emotional expression is causing learners tostruggle with anxiety disorders and even loneliness.
Entrenched gender norms
A staunch adherence to gender norms in an increasingly gender-fluid world can be a source of enormous stress on learners and their goals for the future.
Inconsistent support systems
While the awareness has increased, trained counsellors, psychologists and other structured support have still not broken through to the learning systems. Institutions across India have taken a reactive stance rather than a preventative one.
Moving forward
Schools that acknowledge the reality of negative mental health in our country, adapt their environment to protect individualism among learners are the utmost need of the country.
