Countless studies have linked factors like school stress and bullying to mental health issues in students – but is enough attention being given to the issue?
A nominated member of parliament in Singapore, Associate Professor Daniel Goh Pei Siong, recently asked the education minister whether the Ministry of Education (MoE) will be planning to roll out a regular and comprehensive program to raise awareness on mental illnesses – particularly in secondary schools.
The minister responded that resources and programs are already in place for schools to educate students and de-stigmatise the issue.
Some of which included school-based conversations and student learning resources, as well as resources for school counsellors and teachers to help them form strategies on how to support students better, he added.
“To support students with mental illnesses, schools have been stepping up efforts to nurture the social and emotional competencies of our students, strengthen supportive school relationships, increase peer support efforts and encourage help-seeking behaviour,” he said.
The question arose due to negative findings from a recent Institute of Mental Health (IMH)-led study, which found that prejudice and stigma against mental illness persisted among students.
Students surveyed used words like “crazy”, “weird”, “stupid” and “dangerous” when asked to describe mental illness.
Over half of the respondents also said that they would be “very embarrassed” if they were diagnosed with a mental illness.
Additionally, around one in three students believed their friends would perceive them as “weak” if they had a mental illness.
The strong negative perception around the issue could lead to students avoiding necessary treatment or not reaching out for a supportive social network within or outside of school, found the study.
However, the education minister pointed out that the study also noted that “majority of the students would reach out to, stand up for and support a classmate with mental illness, which is encouraging”.
How are you supporting mental well-being in your school? Let us know below.
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