Dr. Suresh Kumar Murugesan is a professor and mental health practitioner from Madurai, India specializing in areas like psychotherapy and positive wellbeing. The document discusses the mental health of students, defining mental health and noting that approximately one in four students has a diagnosable mental illness. It outlines some common mental health issues faced by students like anxiety, depression, and eating disorders and the impact these can have on academic performance, relationships, and physical health. The document also discusses strategies for students to improve their mental health like taking breaks and seeking help from professionals if needed.

1. Dr. Suresh Kumar Murugesan PhD
Mental Health of Students

2. About me
● Dr.Suresh Kumar Murugesan is a passionate Professor, researcher
and Mental Health Practitioner from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
● At present he is heading the department of Psychology, The
American College, Madurai
● He is very keen in learning new research studies in behavioural
Sciences and open to learn.
● His ultimate aim is to make impression in the field of Knowledge
● His area of specializations are Psychomentry, Psychotherapy,
Positive wellbeing, Education Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
● WhatsApp +91 975040 6463 email - sureshkumar800@yahoo.com

3. Student a person who is studying at a college or university.

4. Health
Health is a state of
complete physical, mental
and social well-being and
not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity.

5. Mental Health Mental health, defined by the World Health Organization, is
● “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or
her own abilities,
● can cope with the normal stresses of life,
● can work productively and fruitfully, and
● is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

6. Mental Health ● For years, the topic of mental health has
been a huge taboo.
● It has been shameful to admit we need the
help of a psychologist or even a psychiatrist.
● It has been the subject of jokes more than of
a serious debate.
● Thankfully, we’re observing an increased
interest in the topic.
● Currently, mental health is getting more and
more recognition and the stigma around it is
slowly disappearing.
● But what about mental wellbeing of
students?

7. Mental Health
People tend to think of mental disorders as something that happens to someone
else - “It doesn’t affect me, I’m not an insane person”.
There are multiple aspects of mental health - from serious disorders like
Schizophrenia or Bipolar disorder to anxiety, mild depression, eating
disorders or substance abuse.
Young people often refuse to admit that they suffer from a disorder or look for
help, partly due to insufficient knowledge, and partly because of fear of negative
reactions from their peers.

8. Mental Health of
Students
● The truth is that, among students, anxiety,
depression and eating disorders are
extremely common.
● According to mental health research
conducted by the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI), one in four students
has a diagnosable mental illness.
● Stress from exams, pressure from peers and
family - pressure to do well at the university
and to go out socialise and have fun.
● Going away on an exchange may for sure
add to that - it is an additional challenge that
can sometimes make you feel more stressed
and on edge.

9. Mental Health of Students
● The root of the problem is considering the symptoms to be normal.
● Irritability, feeling constantly tired or on edge, headaches mood swings or
insomnia are common signs that something wrong is going on and cannot
be ignored.
● It is very good to realise that many people among us might suffer from
similar issues.
● Opening up to a friend, someone from your family, or even consulting an
online forum might bring you huge relief.

10. Mental
Health of
Students
● Many fail to remember to take proper care of their
minds.
● We are constantly reminded to eat well, train, we pick
out nice clothes we look good in - we care about our
bodies, but we forget to take care of the soul.
● It is extremely important to take some time off every
once in a while.
● To unwind, turn off all social media, slow down.
● Reading a book, taking a bath or practising yoga are
some of the best ways to let the mind take a little rest
from the everyday hustle.

11. Mental
Health of
Students
● If the solutions don’t work and still can’t relax, feel
anxious or unhappy, the student should never feel
ashamed to look for professional help.
● Even when our problem seems trivial, seeing a
psychiatrist can be extremely beneficial and improve our
overall quality of life.
● That is what they are here for - to help us deal with
everyday problems and feel more at ease.
● Remember that mental issues can happen to anyone
and are not a sign of weakness or something to make
fun of.
● Keep our eye open for symptoms, either our own or from
someone in our environment, and react before the
problem escalates.

12. Being a student is stressful, but
trying to juggle school work
and other responsibilities while
experiencing mental illness can
make it even harder.

13. According to the National
Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI),
● approximately one in five
youth aged 13–18 live with
mental health conditions and
● approximately 75 percent of
people with mental health
issues develop them prior to
the age of 24.

14. Mental health conditions can feel
debilitating and scary, making some
learners retreat inward rather than seek
help.

15. Many students feel fear when first
recognizing a mental health issue within
themselves, as they might not be able
to figure out where it came from.

16. Students who previously felt nervous
during public speaking but suddenly
experience overwhelming panic
understandably struggle to figure out
what changed.

17. Factors such as significant life
changes, politics, family,
academic pressure,
relationship issues, and money
can all contribute to changes in
mental health.

18. NAMI also reports that
exercise, sleep, and diet can
help students feel better or
worse, depending on how well
they take care of themselves.

19. Mental illness
in suicide
Suicide is the third leading
cause of death in students
aged 10–24, with 90 percent of
those dying by suicide having
an underlying mental illness.

20. School drop outs.
37 percent of students aged 14 or older with a
mental health issue drop out of school.

21. Juvenile justice
Of the youth in local or state juvenile justice
centers, 70 percent have a mental illness.

22. Mental Health of
Students
Mental health problems can affect many areas of
students’ lives,
● reducing their quality of life,
● academic achievement,
● physical health, and
● satisfaction with the college experience, and
● negatively impacting relationships with
friends and family members.
These issues can also have long-term
consequences for students, affecting their future
employment, earning potential, and overall health

23. Anxiety and
Stress
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America found
that
one in eight children are affected by anxiety, yet 80 percent of
those with a diagnosable anxiety disorder do not receive
treatment.
By going without counseling, medication, and other helpful
tools for treating anxiety, children are likely to experience
long–reaching issues.
Anxiety disorders have been on the rise in K–12 children
since at least the 1950s and studies show that numbers are
expected to continue rising in the coming years.

24. Anxiety and
Stress
● Anxiety can be a normal part of childhood if
experienced in phases, but students with continued
symptoms often have a treatable anxiety disorder.
● Stress and anxiety hinder academic success more
than any other non-academic factors.
● In addition anxiety, is hurting concentration, anxiety
and stress can lead to racing thoughts, poor
judgment, and impaired memory.
● On the emotional spectrum, depression, agitation,
and the inability to relax can result, leading to
procrastination or, for some students, self-
medication with drugs and alcohol.
● Anxiety and stress may also manifest themselves
physically, causing students to suffer from nausea,
rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and chest pains.

25. Consequences
for the Student
● Mental health problems can affect a
student's energy level, concentration,
dependability, mental ability, and
optimism, hindering performance.
● Research suggests that depression is
associated with lower grade point
averages, and that co-occurring
depression and anxiety can increase
this association.
● Depression has also been linked to
dropping out of school.

26. Mental Health
consequence
Many college students report that mental health
difficulties interfere with their studies. On the
American College Health Association 2015 survey,
college students identified the following mental
health issues as negatively impacting their
academic performance within the last 12 months:
● Stress (30% of students)
● Anxiety (22%)
● Sleep difficulties (20%)
● Depression (14%)

27. Consequences for Others
● Peers, family members, faculty, and staff may be personally affected out of concern
for these students.
● Depression and anxiety can have harmful effects on relationships and work
productivity.
● Suicide and suicidal thoughts can affect the larger campus community.
● Roommates, peers, faculty, and staff also experience profound grief over student
suicides and suicidal behavior.

28. Consequences for Campuses
● Campuses feel the burden when students with mental health
difficulties do poorly on course work and drop out of school.
● Colleges and universities must be prepared to address the
psychological impact of suicides on other students, as well as on
teachers and staff.4
● Poor student retention can mean losses in tuition, fees, and alumni
donations.

29. Consequences
for Communities
and the Larger
Society
● The community is negatively
affected when students are
unable to finish their degrees and
contribute valuable skills in a
competitive job market.
● One study found that five percent
of students do not finish their
education due to psychiatric
disorders and estimated that 4.29
million people would have
graduated from college had they
not been experiencing such
disorders.5

30. Talk to someone It's important to tell someone how you
feel as this may bring an immediate
sense of relief.
The student could speak to a:
● friend
● member of your family
● university tutor
● counsellor
● doctor
A tutor may also be able to help the
student get in touch with university or
other counselling services.

31. Why Does Mental Health Matter in Schools?
Addressing mental health needs in school is critically important because 1 in 5 children and youth have a diagnosable
emotional, behavioral or mental health disorder and 1 in 10 young people have a mental health challenge that is severe
enough to impair how they function at home, school or in the community.1
Many estimates show that even though mental illness affects so many of our kids aged 6-17 at least one-half and many
estimate as many as 80% of them do not receive the mental health care they need.
Being able to recognize and support kids mental health in schools matters because:
● Mental health problems are common and often develop during childhood and adolescence
● They are treatable!
● Early detection and intervention strategies work. They can help improve resilience and the ability to succeed in
school & life.

32. Youth with emotional and behavioral disorders have the worst
graduation rate of all students with disabilities.
Nationally, only 40 percent of students with emotional,
behavioral and mental health disorders graduate from high
school, compared to the national average of 76 percent; and,
Over 50% of students with emotional and behavioral
disabilities ages 14 and older, dropout of high school. This is
the highest dropout rate of any disability group!
Obviously we have to do better! This section of the website
will try to offer suggestions on how you might go about
troubleshooting problems you may encounter when trying to
access the support your child needs at school.

33. How Do Mental Health Disorders Affect Children and Youth at School?
● Mental Health Disorders can affect classroom learning and social interactions, both of which are critical to the
success of students.
● However, if appropriate services are put in place to support a young person’s mental health needs we can often
maximize success and minimize negative impacts for students.
● One of the problems that families frequently run into is getting the school to recognize the role of mental health
disorders in relationship to the difficulty their child is having.
● Getting agreement to put strategies in place to address mental health issues and help the youth to better manage his
or her mental health symptoms at school is sometimes equally as challenging.
● Children’s mental health can affect young people in a variety of ways to varying degrees in the school environment.
● One child’s symptoms may be really hard to manage at school while another child with the same condition may not
have much difficulty.
● In addition, like all of us, kids with mental health challenges have good days and bad, as well as, times periods when
they are doing really well and times when their mental health symptoms become more difficult to manage.

34. How Do Mental Health Disorders Affect Children and Youth at School?
● When figuring out the types of supports and services to put in place, it is important to keep in mind that all kids are
unique with differing needs and coping mechanisms.
● The mental health interventions that are chosen need to be based on the individual needs of each child and be able
to flex in order to provide more or less support as needed.
● Children with mental health needs often need a variety of types of supports in school for them to be successful.
● For example, a child with hyperactivity may benefit from working some activity into their daily classroom routine.
● A child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder might benefit from their teachers being trained to interact with them in a
certain way.
● A young person who struggles with disorganization might be helped by being taught planning skills.
● Children who may become aggressive and those who get overly anxious may benefit from exploring what things lead
up to those feelings and being taught strategies to recognize when it is happening and things to do to avoid the
problem from escalating.

35. How Do Mental Health Disorders Affect Children and Youth at School?
● Sometimes meeting mental health needs in schools may require special instruction and/or practice.
● For example, if our child needs help for difficulties with social interactions or communication difficulties it may help
to teach them new skills and have them practice using them by role-playing or trying them out in small groups.
● It is also helpful to look at how mental health symptoms may affect a child in the classroom and the
accommodations that may help.
● For example, children and youth with anxiety disorders may often struggle in school because they are so pre-
occupied with their ‘worries’ that it makes it hard for them to pay attention.
● They may have physical complaints like stomach and headaches and may be frequently absent.
● They may also have trouble starting or completing their work because they are worried that it won’t be right.
● Sometimes their fear of being embarrassed, or getting something wrong or their fear of having to interact with others
may lead them to them to avoid group and social activities and perhaps school all-together.

36. Possible
accommodations or
strategies that may help
include:
● Allowing flexible deadlines or letting the student
have an option to re-do work so they feel more
confident turning it in.
● Helping the teacher to recognize escalating
anxiety in a child and equipping them with the
tools to intervene and help the child to
implement strategies that help manage their
anxiety.
● Pre-planning for group discussions to help
reduce their anxiety about what they will share
or say.
● Make plan for what to do when they are unable
to focus due to worries.
● Allow for breaks or opportunities to de-stress.

37. How to Navigate Problems At School:
● How you, as a parent, go about navigating problems at school for your child will depend on a variety of factors
including the nature of the problem itself and whether or not your child needs or receives special services.
● One strategy that is always helpful no matter how you attempt to solve problems is to work to build a strong working
relationship with your child’s school and the people in it.
● This can sometimes feel challenging at first, especially if you feel the school is not yet willing to do what you think
your child needs to be successful.
● But try to keep in mind that you and the professionals at school really do have a common goal in mind and that is to
help your child be successful at school.
● If you feel your child’s mental health issues are making them unable to learn and progress at school they may qualify
for special education.

38. How to Navigate Problems At School:
● Whether or not your child receives special education services you can work with the school to try to get some
supports in place to meet their needs.
● If your child is having trouble in their classroom it might be best to first meet with the teacher and let them know your
concerns. They may have some ideas and be willing to put some strategies in place to help your child.
● If that doesn’t resolve the problem you may also want to try to include other school staff such as the principle, social
worker, etc. In addition, if your child receives private or public mental health services it may be helpful to ask your
child’s therapist to be a part of the meeting as well, as they may be able to provide some much needed insight about
what might help your child.
● Before any of these meetings take place it is always helpful to take the time to prepare by listing your concerns,
including the things that you think your child is struggling with at school and the things you think will help them. It
can also be helpful for you to think about the things that might make your child worse or aggravate their mental
health condition.

39. How to Navigate Problems At School:
● When you meet and share your concerns, whether informally or in a formal meeting the professionals at your school
will be able to offer suggestions about strategies they think may help. Again it can be helpful for you to review
possible accommodations prior to the meeting with the school and select some to share that you think might be
especially helpful for your child.
● After the meeting with the school where you discussed your child’s needs the school may want to do some
classroom observations to better understand your child needs. Then you can work with the school to agree to put
some strategies in place to help your child be more successful. It is important to keep in mind that the first try isn’t
always a success. You and the school may find out you need to go back to the drawing board and come up with new
strategies.

40. Behavioral Issues at School
● For information about how to address behavioral issues at school and creating positive behavior support plans if you
child receives special education services.
● If your child does not receive special education you can still work with the school to put a plan in place to address
behavior issues.
● Often if you can get the school to consider providing some of the accommodations or modifications discussed
above to support your child when their mental health symptoms affect them at school this alone can help to reduce
behavior problems.
● Sometimes though some children and youth have ongoing behavioral challenges that may need additional support.
You can work with the school to come up with a plan to support your child and teach them new skills in an effort to
reduce behavior problems and help your child and the school cope with them when they do.
● Plans should be focused on helping kids to recognize the things that can trigger behavioral issues and also teaching
new behaviors and skills and allowing opportunities for the student to practice them.
● Remember that your input can be critical when working to create a successful behavior plan for your child as you
know your child best!

41. Suspension
& Expulsion
● If your child is being excluded from school by being sent
home or suspended.
● Try to learn more about discipline issues at school
including suspension & expulsion.
● If your child is eligible for special education and/or if your
child’s school is aware that he or she has a disability,
there are limits to the school’s ability to suspend or
exclude your child from school for behavior related to
your child’s disability.
● As a parent learn and aware about the information
regarding school discipline, suspension, expulsion and
safeguards for students with disabilities and those
receiving special education.

42. Getting Formal Help to
Resolve Disagreements
with the School
● When you are seeking special education services for
your child or when the school is providing these
services, sometimes problems or disagreements
arise about what should be happening to support
your child.
● When disagreements occur it is always best to try to
resolve the problem by speaking with your school
team and sharing your concerns.
● However if you are unable to work the issues out in
this way, there are other formal and informal options
for resolving disagreements including working your
way up the ‘chain of command’ at your school,
requesting mediation to resolve a problem and filing
complaints.

43. Supporting Materials
1. https://cbse.nic.in/newsite/attach/CBSE%20MH%20Manual.pdf
2. https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=4017
3. http://teenmentalhealth.org/schoolmhl/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Mental-Health-High-School-Curriculum-Guide.pdf
4. https://teachertaskforce.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Basic%20PSS%20in%20education%20-
%20A%20training%20manual%20for%20teachers%20and%20other%20stakeholders.pdf
5. https://dghs.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/Training%20manual%20Psychologists.pdf
6. https://www.mhinnovation.net/sites/default/files/downloads/innovation/tools/African%20School%20Mental%20Health%20Curric
ulum.pdf
7. http://www.socialserviceworkforce.org/system/files/resource/files/Building%20Capacity%20in%20Mental%20Health%20and%2
0Psychosocial%20Care%20A%20training%20manual%20for%20health%20care%20workers%20%26%20community%20work
ers%20in%20refugee%20settings%20in%20the%20African%20Great%20Lake%20Area.pdf
8. https://www.ucop.edu/student-mental-health-resources/_files/pdf/PSMH-guide.pdf
9. https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/mhpss/manual_july_02_2019r2.pdf
10. https://nhssp.org.np/Resources/SD/Mental_Health_Training_for_MO_and_HA_Facilitators_Guide_Aug2018.pdf
11. https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/health/ephti/library/lecture_notes/nursing_students/LN_Psych_Nsg_final.pdf
12. https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/college-reports/college-report-
cr166.pdf?sfvrsn=d5fa2c24_2

44. References
1. https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/constitution
2. https://www.sprc.org/colleges-universities/consequences
3. https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/top-5-mental-health-problems-facing-college-students/
4. https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/student-mental-health-resources/
5. https://esn.org/blog/mental-health-among-students
6. http://www.acmh-mi.org/get-help/navigating/problems-at-school/
7. https://www.learnpsychology.org/mental-health/
8. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/student-life/about-student-
mental-health/