Beyond Grades: The Hidden Toll of Academic Stress on Student Mental Health
Between an onslaught of homework, juggling extracurriculars, studying for exams and desperately trying to find something that makes them unique for college admissions or grad school programs, it’s not hard to believe that many students struggle with mental health and anxiety due to academics. Surveys show that three in five (60%) college students report having been diagnosed with a mental health condition, compared to 48% of the general population.1
In the past few decades, competition has increased among students as colleges have become more selective. The average college admissions process is incredibly stressful, and students face pressure from their peers, parents and teachers to get the best grades or write the perfect essay. 74% of teens say that excessive homework causes stress, followed by difficult exams, high expectations from others and internalized perfectionism as a result.2 Many struggle with detrimental side effects of prolonged stress such as heightened anxiety, depression, increased substance use, difficulties with sleep, inability to relax, and overall impaired functioning. By the time they get into college, many high school students are burnt out from just the process of trying to get in, which in turn ironically affects their academic achievement. 6 in 10 college students reported their mental state negatively impacting their grades.3
High school students also find the transition into college life challenging. Many aren’t prepared for the level of rigor of college-level work which adds to the stress of the new environment.
To make things worse, receiving mental health support can be difficult. For college students, only a quarter say they know where to go on campus to access mental health resources.4 Treatment centers are understaffed, with about eight counselors on average according to the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors’ 2021 annual report, which leads to long wait times. With such a hindersome process along with the already-stressful academic load, college students are poorly equipped to seek help.
So what are some potential solutions to this crisis among students? There are a variety of answers provided just by a basic Google search – regular exercise, improving time management, regular sleep patterns, and the most obvious, getting help from a professional. The last, as already addressed, will require more than student action – colleges may need to implement serious institutional changes that increase accessibility to mental health services. And there’s no clear-cut solution for students as everyone has individualized needs depending on their mental state. For students who are worried about grades and have anxiety over exams, a short-term fix such as taking a step back and rationalizing what’s at stake and how much anxiety is warranted might work. For others who are diagnosed with mental disorders such as depression, a medical intervention may be necessary.
Ultimately, the pervasive nature of academic pressure on students’ mental health is evident, and raising awareness of this issue is a crucial first step. Until colleges, teachers, parents, and peers collectively address this problem and implement necessary changes, it is unlikely that students will find relief from the mental toll that high school and college years has on them. Each student’s journey to better mental health will be unique, but acknowledging the problem and advocating for support is a vital starting point for a healthier academic environment.
Sources:
1. Megan Leonhardt, “Crisis on campus: 60% of college kids are living with mental health disorders, and schools are woefully unprepared,” Fortune Well, July 12th 2022, https://fortune.com/well/2022/07/12/mental-health-crisis-college-schools-unprepared/. 2. Jean Linder, “The Consequences of Academic Pressure on Students’ Mental Health,” Transformations Care Network, https://www.transformationsnetwork.com/post/the-consequences-of-academic-pressure-on-students-mental-health. 3. Leonhardt, 2022. 4. Leonhardt, 2022.
