All It Needs Is A Call That Breaks The Silence

Higher learning institutions shall be on an extensive lookout for any signs of weary emotional state amongst the students. Referring to the recent case of suicide involving a student from one of the local universities, the number of such occurrences may seem insignificant in pointing out mental health issues experienced by the students. However, it is a prevalent sign of students having their hard times with no one there to bring them back to their senses.

It is worth noting that even with the introduction of a hybrid and flexible learning system as issued by the Ministry of Higher Education, there is still so much to be improved especially at the university level itself. The fact that campus life grows even more challenging and demanding these days, mental health is definitely not something that one can simply ridicule. Burnout in the learning process and workplaces is something one should expect while carrying out tasks or responsibilities, training them to be ‘hardened’ and better experienced as they hurdle through challenges. But for some, this might become their breaking point.

Perhaps the best way to do it is through a surgical implementation of early diagnosis among students and staff and not to let the Counselling Unit to be on its own. Hiring a diverse group of professionals and licenced counsellors just will not work if there is no proper training for the staff and students to recognize mental distress amongst students and to respond appropriately. Those experiencing depressing mental conditions, as we know, will not just straight up walk to see the counsellors on their own.

One way that the universities can do to tackle this issue is through the establishment Crisis Intervention Unit, moving as a squad equipped with Psychological First Aid and Mental Health First Aid skills to detect students experiencing early signs of mental depression and provide emotional and psychological support that they need. Consecutively, there is also a need for mental health well-being programmes to be conducted with stress management workshops, and motivational therapy sessions as a yearly initiative.

In short, higher learning institutions should really drop their stigmatization of mental health issues as some sort of trivial matter and really heed the call to prioritize mental health. By adopting a holistic and time-sensitive approach, they can contribute significantly to the overall well-being of their students and make early detection easier.