In today's fast-paced and demanding world, mental health has become a critical issue that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Feature writer Tracey Ugwueru explores
Mayokun Akin's point of view, a determined twenty-one-year-old student from De Montfort University, is on a mission to break the silence and stigma surrounding mental health. "Mental issues continue to plague our society at an alarming rate," he says. His passion and drive for raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health is admirable, and his perspective sheds light on the importance of creating a more inclusive and understanding society where people can seek the help they need without fear of judgment.
Mayokun's views on the subject offer suggestions on how to tackle mental health issues in universities. He suggests that reducing the stigma around mental health on university campuses can be done by creating general awareness of mental health. People need to be educated on why mental health is not a bad thing but rather essential to the well-being of the mind. Mental health should be talked about more, and more should be done to take into account mental health when it comes to the education and lecturing of students.
Oftentimes, students associate mental health with craziness, which creates a negative stigma that discourages students from seeking help. This can have adverse effects on students' well-being and performance in their studies. Universities can create conventions where students can talk to each other and share personal experiences, as well as undergo assessments of their mental health. This will help students be more confident in expressing themselves and expressing issues concerning mental health. Universities can also create a mental well-being group in which students can be taught and educated about mental health, as well as encouraged to speak more and practice mental well-being techniques that would improve their mental health and well-being.
Mayokun suggests that universities may create mental health weeks in which students can reflect on their mental health, and this can also serve as a form of awareness for mental health. Universities can conduct campaigns where students can be quizzed on their knowledge of mental health and their opinions about mental health. Students can be educated if they do not have a very thorough understanding of mental health, and students who agree that they have mental health issues can be given support and help.
Normalizing mental health is an important process in which students can increase positivity around mental health as well as decrease the stigma associated with it. Students should be encouraged to seek mental health as well as told that seeking mental health is normal and a very healthy thing to do.
This can be done using social media campaigns, student-led mental health groups, and education programs. Any form of negative attitude and beliefs about mental health should be addressed by promoting understanding and compassion. Lastly, students should be given confidential support in which they are supported confidentially.
The stigma around mental health can significantly impact students who are seeking help. Stigma may be in the form of negative attitudes and beliefs about mental health, which can lead to discrimination, shame, or embarrassment. Students may feel hesitant to seek help for mental health concerns because of the fear of being judged, ridiculed, or ostracized by their peers. Mayokun adds that "mental health support services should be sensitive to the cultural backgrounds and experiences of all students. This means the service providers should be trained to understand the response to unique challenges faced by different groups of students. In addition, a varying range of services and support should be offered to meet the needs of students. For example, this could include individual counselling, group therapy, workshops, and educational programs. Lastly, universities should address any necessary barriers that prevent students from accessing mental health support services, such as transportation, accommodating disabilities, and even creating a flexible shadow for students."
In conclusion, tackling the stigma around mental health on university campuses is crucial to promoting the well-being of students. Mayokun's suggestions for creating general awareness.
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