The Importance Of Mental Health Courses In Universities

It is fair to say that the importance of mental health courses in universities was neglected until the last three decades, especially among the student population. Only recently have we become aware of how much college life can be stressful and can take a toll on one’s well-being. We watched too many movies like American Pie which made us believe how every day at the campus is a non-stop party and debauchery.

Well, it isn’t, there is a lot of hard work, final exams, and sleepless nights that students need to endure to archive their education goals. Maybe it is time that every university in the nation pays more attention to their student’s wellbeing and at least provides them professional support or mental health courses in universities on this issue. 

Why We Need Mental Health Courses in Universities

1. Finals Are Coming

No matter how passionate one is about his studies, one won’t avoid exam anxiety or stress associated with it. Every failed exam means one step further from completing your studies, and one can feel very disappointed when failing, after investing so much hard work. We begin to understand that education can be very stressful at times and can leave so many emotional scars if not handled properly.

Students need support from their families, teachers, and professional counselors at all times so they can cope with the pressure in their lives. Without a proper support system, each student may succumb to some form of mental illness or a disorder like OCD or some kind of neurosis. 

So many generations of students never had the knowledge about these issues or coping mechanisms that can help them. Thanks to modern technology, the Internet, and an advanced approach to mental health issues, things are starting to change. It is no secret that a large percentage of the student population suffers from anxiety, stress, and depression, and this causes a lot of medical or alcohol abuse.

This is why it’s very important to educate students about the repercussions of constant exposure to stress or pressure without rest or proper relief. Preventive courses are always more effective than subsequent treatment when the psychological damage is already done. 

2. Peer Pressure

It is not only long hours of studying that puts pressure on students, they also suffer from the social life on campus or the lack of it. When one is far away from home and his family, that is stressful enough, but imagine having to ignore that and concentrate on your exams too. In moments like that, one could use some help. There is no shame in turning a write me a research paper mode on, because it would ease your pressure or stress and leave you with more time for socializing or other non-study activities. 

Socializing is a need and a necessity, especially for students who are craving new experiences or connections with people. It is hard for any student to find a balance between his studies and his social life. His academic success may depend upon finding this delicate balance, and his peers may not be always so helpful in achieving this goal.

Partying or socializing can be exhausting, and those who focus on their studies may be ridiculed by their peers or labeled as nerds or geeks. Finding a middle ground may require some professional help from counselors or attending courses on students’ mental health. 

3. Studying Your Fear

Knowing your enemy will help you defeat it, according to all military specialists. This is true for fear or anxiety also, or any form of mental illness that may plague students worldwide. Learning about these issues will help you understand them much better and approach them without prejudices that come with the lack of knowledge. Attending courses at your university can make you more prepared to cope with these problems if they may arise one day. Every student should educate himself about basic mental healthcare for his own good, and his colleagues should be a place of support that enables him to freely access these kinds of information.

There are so many books or articles one can access over the net, but attending university courses feels more intimate, and it makes students feel more related to their school. It creates a sense of belonging or caring for each other, and that is what studying experience should be all about.

Students who are fully aware of this important issue will be better equipped to deal with it if the need arises. That is why early prevention in the form of free courses is so critical in this sensitive period of their lives. Our scholars deserve the best mental health care because they are our young experts who will shape our country’s future.

Mental Health

Anxiety, stress, and other mental illness issues are a plague in our modern society. Perhaps we live too fast, maybe we expect too much of each other, but nevertheless, we have to take care of ourselves. If you are a student who feels a burden by these problems, feel free to check if your college provides any kind of support in the form of free course studies.

Learn more about yourself, your mind, and the best defense mechanisms that will help you cope with any psychological problem. Remember that your health is in your hands and you are the one who has the power and the ability to make changes in your life. This is why everyone should make mental health courses in universities a priority.

Positive Words Research – The Importance Of Mental Health Courses In Universities

5 Tips On How Avoiding Negativity Improves the Work Day

“A happy employee is a productive employee”. We’ve all heard this quote numerous times, but is there any truth to it? It turns out, there is. A recent study done by the University of Warwick showed the productivity of a happy employee increased 12 percent when placed in a positive and happy environment. So, how do we create this happy environment for ourselves?

1. In with the Good, Out with the Bad

Negativity has a scientific term when associated with the biological systems of the body. The emotion of negativity is directly related to the hormone cortisol. Cortisol’s primary function is to trigger a stress reaction in the human body. It is our body’s natural built-in system to create the feeling of stress. In today’s world, the concept sounds foolish. However, if you were a caveman crossing paths with a saber-toothed tiger, you may want a built-in system that lets you know you are in a dangerous situation.

Have you ever heard stories of police officers or military talking about the hair on the back of their neck standing up? That’s cortisol letting the brain know it is in a hazardous environment. In these hazardous environments, cortisol being dumped into the system in large quantities over a short period of time is a very effective system. However, in a workplace setting, cortisol being pumped into your system is much smaller, and much more consistent doses is something we want to work positively to avoid. This steady stream of the stress hormone has been linked to depression, weight gain, weakened immune system, and a shortened lifespan. The power of positivity on your health can be measured in loads.

2. Get Moving Towards a Brighter Day

Endorphins, also known as the activity hormone, are cortisol suppressing hormones. These are released in almost any physical activity, from running a marathon to spending some quality time with your partner in the bedroom. To release this hormone at work, start scheduling some activity into your workday. See if there is a lunchtime workout class close to your office or a nice running trail. If not, set an alarm on your phone or utilize an app for a predetermined set of time. When the alarm goes off, get active! Calisthenics, yoga, or walking lap around your building will do the trick.

3. Have Your Cake and Eat it too

You know that feeling of euphoria when you bite into a decadent piece of chocolate cake? How about that wave of comfort or relaxation after finishing spring cleaning or organizing your desk. That’s dopamine, the “mission accomplished” hormone. How do you release this hormone? You guessed it, accomplish missions! Start every day by writing down a “to do” list. As you accomplish the tasks, deliberately scratch the items off the list. Consider doing it while listening to feel-good music that has been found to have positive effects on the emotional areas of your brain. With each cross-off, you’ll get a healthy dose of dopamine. By the end of the day, you’ll wonder how you were ever feeling down, to begin with.

4. Get Talking

Serotonin is quite similar to dopamine; it too is a “mission accomplished” hormone. However, this hormone is socially engaged. It is very hard to trigger a serotonin release on your own. The emotion most often associated with serotonin is pride — not pride in yourself, but when you feel how proud the people in your life are of your accomplishments. Feeling proud of someone else’s accomplishments can create a rush of serotonin as well. Try fostering a mentor/mentee relationship where you commit to using only positive language with one another. Regardless of what side of the relationship you are on; as soon as one of you has a great accomplishment, the serotonin will soon follow.

5. Servitude and High Fives

Oxytocin, the most powerful cortisol suppressant, has been proven to help aid with depression, substance abuse, and can even increase your lifespan. Like serotonin, this hormone is difficult to release all by yourself. There are two effective ways to release oxytocin in a social setting: physical contact and acts of service. A hug or even a high five-time can help to lighten another person’s day, as well as your own. Committing acts of service, such as organizing an office blood drive, park clean up, or soup kitchen staffing will help create a positive working space for yourself and your colleagues.

Author’s Bio

Avery T. Phillips is a freelance human being with too much to say. She loves nature and examining human interactions with the world. Comment or tweet her @a_taylorian with any questions or suggestions.

Here at Positive Words Research, we are looking to share with our readers original content that hasn’t been published on other sites so if you are comfortable with Positive Words Research being your sole publisher, we are more than happy to share with our readers your inspiring and empowering story.

avoiding negativity

5 Sure-Fire Ways to Combat Your Everyday Anxiousness

Now, as someone who naturally feels plenty of anxiety in day-to-day life, it is almost hereditary that I should come up with at least a few solutions to this problem, and I am here today to share them with you.

1.    Give Yourself Some Space

In any happy and successful relationship, space is almost mandatory, isn’t it? So, think about your relationship with yourself. If you feel as though you are constantly in your own head creating more anxiety than necessary, I strongly suggest that you give yourself a minute to be alone, allow your mind to run free with all the thoughts and feelings that it needs to get through the horrid anxiousness. Let your brain do its thing! Trust me, you’ll thank yourself.

2.    It’s Okay to Be Selfish

Once in a while, it is totally more than okay to allow yourself some selfishness. If you need something and you believe that it will help you then, by all means, go to the lengths that you need to, to be a happier person. If you need to cancel plans so that you can have some well-needed alone time, go for it! There is no need to always put other people first.

3.    Do Something That You Love

A fabulous example of this for me is Zumba, I go to a Zumba class once if not twice a week. This is because I used to be a dancer so I have always loved to dance. However, for you, this could be anything! Let yourself indulge once or twice a week or the stress will get the better of you. Whether this is listening to some music that you love, or doing some art, having a sing in the shower, nothing is off limits if it is something that you love that will quash the anxiousness.

4.    Organize, Organize, Organize

A tidy mind makes for a more positive experience in all other areas. I carry around a little A6 notepad with me each and every day with a checklist of plausible, achievable targets for me. This method helps me feel as though I am on top of things and I am achieving something every time I get to tick something off of that list! Remind yourself, however, that it isn’t crucial to complete every single task you have set yourself which would be almost impossible if everyone were do complete everything that they had set out to do each day. Make sure that you’re aware that the world will certainly not cave in if one or two items are missed off of this list.

5.    Mindfulness

I’m sure that if you’re a person who feels a lot of anxiety you will have heard this a thousand times over, but I will say it again. Being self-aware is so extremely important in the long-term to prevent feeling anxious. So, doing activities like yoga, meditation, mindfulness coloring and all those other mindfulness techniques that you may be skeptical about (which I completely get) might be more useful than you think. I’ve found that since doing them I feel like I’ve gotten to know how my mind works and in turn allowing myself to control my emotions in a more effective and calm way.

I sincerely hope that these five tips help you out in your journey to a less anxious life, if you have any to add feel free to comment them on this post. The word about day-to-day solutions to life’s tendencies to stress us all out the need to be spread.

Charlotte Yorke

A short bio about the writer: My name is Charlotte Yorke and I am an eighteen-year-old A-Level Student in Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. I am beginning my exciting journey into the world of Journalism by beginning my Undergraduate Degree at Staffordshire University in September 2017. I am an avid reader and writer, I thoroughly enjoy expressing myself through the written word.

Link to my blog: www.yorkeonline.wordpress.com

(Photo Credits: Sam Herdman)

Positive Words Research – 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Combat Your Everyday Anxiousness