The need for and need to address mental health in education and the workplace

According to the World Health Organization, health means complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Therefore, health does not only mean being physically healthy, mental, social and spiritual aspects are equally important in good health. A person's mental health does not only depend on personal factors, such as his thoughts, emotions and behavior, but in this case, the family, socio-cultural and economic environment is also closely involved. Family-social morality and values, quality of life, social protection and security, overall cultural atmosphere, entertainment, education and work environment all influence a person's mental health and overall health.

World Mental Health Day has been celebrated every year since 1992, following the initiative taken by Richard Dick Hunter, former Deputy Secretary General of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). This year, the main theme of the day is “It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace”. The theme is appropriate and timely in the current changing situation and context

 

People spend a significant portion of their lives at work. In today's workplace, competition, work pressure, time constraints, and the challenge of maintaining a personal life balance have a significant impact on employees' mental health.

The importance of mental health in the workplace
Mental well-being in the workplace means managing work pressure, problem-solving skills, and maintaining good relationships with colleagues. If an employee is mentally healthy, his or her work efficiency increases and the organization benefits. On the other hand, if mental well-being is not maintained, it has a negative impact on performance, creativity, and professional relationships. When mental stress or anxiety is high, a person loses focus on work, decision-making ability decreases, and productivity decreases. Long-term mental stress or illness leads to an increase in the rate of absenteeism from work, which is harmful to both the individual and the organization.

Mental health problems in the workplace
No specific factor can be blamed for causing mental illness. However, there are many factors in a person's life that increase the risk of developing the disease. Various factors in the workplace can also be considered as factors responsible for or risk factors for mental health problems or illnesses. These include:

Work pressure : Employees feel stressed when they have to complete a lot of work within a specific deadline. The excessive pressure of expectations from the authorities increases mental anxiety among employees. If this work pressure continues for a long time, it becomes one of the causes of mental health problems.

Work-life balance: It is very difficult to maintain a balance between work and personal life in the present times. Many employees have to work from home. As a result, it has a negative impact on personal and family life, which can lead to mental problems.

Workplace Environment: Workplace environment affects the mental health of employees. Unhealthy competition among colleagues, tendency to belittle or humiliate others, factionalism, intimidation, threats, hostile behavior, unprofessional behavior, unfair demands from superiors, lack of proper recognition for work, constant fear of losing job, etc., besides spoiling the work environment, create mental stress on employees.

Our society often has stereotypes and misconceptions about mental health. This makes it difficult to openly discuss mental health issues. While many workers suffer from stress or anxiety, they are often hesitant to seek help due to societal attitudes and negative workplace attitudes.

Educational Institutions and Workplaces: How quality and educationally friendly an educational institution is; is mainly based on how mentally healthy that educational institution is. On the other hand, students are the main stakeholders of an educational institution. Learning is the main task of a student. That is why we mention students or students in the job column while giving any introduction. That is, educational institutions are recognized as workplaces for students.
Student development is not limited to academic success only, but mental, physical and social development is also an important part of educational life. In today's society, the rapidly changing environment, competitive education system, family and social pressure have all put the mental health of students at risk. In this situation, protecting the mental health of students is one of the main responsibilities of educational institutions.

The importance of protecting the mental health of students
The importance of mental health in a student's life is immense. A mentally healthy student is able to study well, develop social relationships, and cope with various challenges of life. Due to mental instability or mental problems, students' confidence can decrease, which becomes a major obstacle to their achieving quality education. Stress, anxiety, or depression have a negative impact on a student's academic and personal life in the long run.

The main causes of mental problems in students are:
– Academic stress: Excessive studying and exam-based competition create mental stress among students.
– Family stress : Sometimes excessive expectations from the family become a mental burden for students.
- Impact of social media: Excessive use of social media in the digital age makes many students mentally unstable. The attitude of comparing themselves with others and the pressure to be popular have a negative impact on their mental health.
- Bullying, ragging and mental abuse by classmates: Many students are subjected to ragging and bullying, or mental abuse by classmates in educational institutions, which endangers their mental state. Moreover, there are various types of relationship stress.

Steps to take to protect mental health in educational institutions
Educational institutions should prioritize the mental health of students and create an environment where students can remain mentally healthy. Below are some steps to take:

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1. Mental Health Awareness Programme
It is very important to make students aware of mental health in educational institutions. Students often assume that problems like stress, depression or anxiety are normal, which can actually be a symptom of mental problems. Regular workshops, discussions and seminars on mental health should be organized to diagnose such problems. Along with students, parents and teachers also need to be made aware of this issue, so that they can quickly identify the mental problems of students and support them properly.

2. Appointment of Counselors and Psychologists
It is very important to appoint professional counselors and psychologists in every educational institution. These experts can help students deal with their mental health problems and increase their mental strength. Sometimes students feel hesitant to share their personal or family problems with others. In such a situation, a counselor can discuss them confidentially and show them the way to mental solutions.

3. Creating a Friendly and Safe Environment
A friendly and safe environment is one of the main ways to improve the mental health of students. Educational institutions should have an environment where students can openly talk about their problems and find solutions. Teachers should demonstrate a friendly attitude towards students, so that they can express themselves and remain stress-free.

4. The importance of creative and physical activities
Physical and creative activities play a very important role in reducing stress. Educational institutions should give importance to creative activities like sports, art, music, and drama. Research has shown that physical activities like running, swimming, or sports help reduce stress and anxiety. Similarly, creative activities like art, drama, or music increase the mental acuity of students and boost their self-confidence.

5. Measures to reduce exam stress
Exam stress in educational institutions in Bangladesh has a huge impact on the mental health of students. It is necessary to encourage the development of personal skills without creating undue pressure on students. Both students and parents should understand that exam results are not the final measure of life. Therefore, special initiatives should be taken to reduce the mental stress of students during exams.

6. Establishment of Mental Health Support Centers
Mental health support centers can be established in every educational institution, where students can talk about their mental problems and find solutions. These centers need to provide guidelines, advice, and necessary mental support to students. It is also necessary to ensure the availability of information related to mental health in educational institutions, so that students can easily get help.

The need for creative and spontaneous methods such as expressive psychotherapy and theater therapy to protect students' mental health
The use of creative and spontaneous methods such as expressive psychotherapy and theater therapy to improve students' mental health is rapidly becoming popular. In addition to conventional mental health protection methods, such creative therapies play an important role in dealing with students' stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental problems.

Introduction to Expressive Psychotherapy
Expressive psychotherapy: A creative process through which individuals are able to express themselves. It provides an opportunity to express inner emotions and thoughts through various creative activities such as music, painting, dance, literature, or drama. Even if students cannot talk directly about their inner crises, fears, or emotional conflicts, they can express all these things through creative expression.

Benefits of Expressive Psychotherapy
1. Increased self-confidence: Students can express their thoughts and emotions through creative methods, which increases their self-confidence.
2. Helps in controlling emotions: Creative therapy helps students to control their emotions. In this, they learn to control their emotional pain, anger, sadness or anxiety.
3. Stress reduction: Physical and creative activities play an important role in reducing stress. It brings mental comfort to students and has a positive impact on their academic and social lives.

The need for expressive psychotherapy and theater therapy to protect students' mental health:
Self-identity development: Creative therapy helps students get to know their personality and internal conflicts. They become aware of their own limitations and strengths.
Trauma healing: Many times students experience emotional trauma due to family, social or academic reasons. Methods like theater therapy help students release that emotional trauma. It brings out their inner suffering through the stage, which paves the way for healing.
Development of emotional stability: Expressive therapies increase students' emotional stability. They learn to face problems by controlling their emotions, which increases their mental strength.

Some recommendations
§ Take effective initiatives to ensure a mental health-friendly environment in the residential halls and appoint a mental health supervisor;
§ Faculty-based student counselors are employed. A respected professor performs additional duties. If these posts are made full-time and a psychotherapist/clinical psychotherapist and an expressive psychotherapist are appointed, students will receive professional counseling services on a part-time basis.
§ Initially, establish an expressive psychotherapy center at Chittagong University, so that group-based mental health services can be ensured centrally for teachers, students and employees.
§ Make mental health services easily available by gradually introducing faculty-based mental health care services.
§ Orientation on the importance, necessity and service receipt of mental health services by department.
§ Introduce higher degrees in expressive psychotherapy to develop professionals in mental health services.

Finally, the mental health of teachers and students is an important part of educational institutions. A mentally healthy student is able to achieve success in his/her educational life and become an active member of society. If mental health is good, students can be more focused on their studies and can fully express their potential. For this, it is necessary to increase awareness of mental health protection in educational institutions, provide psychological support, and ensure a friendly environment among teachers, students, and employees. Which is only possible by establishing a well-organized mental health support center.