Mental health is an increasingly frequent topic in global discussions so that everyone has the right to live with well-being and dignity. As the factors that influence mental health are multi-sectoral, protection and prevention interventions must also be implemented in various areas, including universities.
Janaína Mandra, psychopedagogue at Inteli.
"The process of becoming a university student is complex and requires a series of adaptations for young people. In addition to the pressure and responsibility of choosing a career and performing excellently academically, many have to live alone, stay away from their families and live with people from different cultures," explains Janaína Mandra, a psychopedagogue at Inteli.
That's why we are committed every day to promoting the mental health of our students and creating an environment that promotes best practices and values diversity and well-being for all.
Want to know how? Join us in this article.
THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual is able to use their own abilities, recover from routine stress, be productive and contribute to their community. This involves, for example, having positive social relationships, contributing to the common good, feeling that we are part of something bigger, having empathy for others, applying our cognitive abilities to learn and solve problems, making healthy choices for our body and mind, etc.
In other words, the mental health of adolescents is fundamental to their physical and mental well-being in adult life. According to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), half of all mental health conditions begin by the age of 14, which means that many young people may already be suffering from some psychological disorder when they enter college.
Young people come from an intense process of biological, psychological and social changes and then have to deal with stressful aspects during their academic life. With this in mind, the university has a fundamental role to play in creating actions aimed at educating, guiding and promoting mental health, since the professors follow the students longitudinally, which allows for a more careful observation of the student's overall functioning.
"Students' difficulties are a multifactorial process and are related to a series of variables, ranging from their entry to university, through issues of adapting to the culture, access to quality information, belonging to social groups and healthy routines, to their need for autonomy and the demands related to the content covered in the subjects," adds Janaina.
WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE SIGNS
According to the State of the World's Children 2021UNICEF's State of the World's Children 2021 report, it is estimated that almost one in six girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 19 in Brazil live with a mental disorder, a group that is more exposed to the risk of self-harm, depression and suicide.
Inteli goes to great lengths to support students on their academic journey.
The Psychopedagogical Support Center - NAP, for example, offers assistance to students and promotes teacher training workshops, with guidance on strategies for students with special needs, brain functioning of learning and self-regulation for the processes inherent in academic demands. "We believe that together we can create a welcoming environment where everyone feels welcome and supported. It's important to work on combating the stigma of mental illness and to encourage students to seek out their support networks," Janaina stresses.
Thainá de Deus Lima, Information Systems student at Inteli.
Thainá de Deus Lima, 18, an Information Systems student, came from Vitória da Conquista, in Bahia, and felt that all these changes were bringing discouragement and restlessness from Sunday to Sunday. "Talking to the team helped me realize how important it is to stop and develop other activities that cause relaxation and pleasure."
While some students go to great lengths to achieve everything, it's important to remember that this relentless pursuit of success can lead to exhaustion and damage mental health. That's why it's essential to promote students' all-round development, encouraging attendance, commitment and healthy time management.
