With an increase in mental health disorders amongst the university population (Hughes et al, 2019), our pod believes it is crucial to find ways to help moderate this issue. A mental health disorder is characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors (World Health Organization,  2019). As opposed to this, The World Health Organization describes mental health as “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (World Health Organization, 2018). 

For many, the transition into post-secondary education presents a complete shift in life, from childhood into adulthood, with new roles, and responsibilities. Finding their way without familiar social connections and support, students are particularly vulnerable to diminished mental well-being and increased risk of mental health disorders. These conditions may be exacerbated through inadequate self-care, unhelpful thought patterns, and the absence of social support. Thus, the subject of our Interactive Learning Resource is “Maintaining Mental Health as a University Student”.

The first “big idea” relating to our topic is “Maintaining Mental Health Yourself”. In this subject, we inform our learners how nutrition, sleep, and a growth mindset can have a positive impact on mental well-being. The second “big idea” is “Maintaining Mental Health Through Social Support”. Social support can include friends, family, teachers, and classmates. Self-perceived social support has been shown to reduce stress and depression, and improve academic performance (Awang et al., 2014). 

While attending University, there is pressure to meet new people, succeed in courses, have fun, and the list goes on (Struggling with mental health at university – BBC Stories, 2017). It is essential for a student to understand healthy boundaries and fight the major misconception that you need to “do it all”. University students tend to underestimate the effects of sleep on academic performance, the impacts of a healthy diet as well as the role of the vagus nerve, the positive component of making time for others, and the importance of a positive mindset. Another misconception is the belief that neglecting mental health maintenance is okay.

Our pod strives to address this topic as each individual is pursuing a degree of their own and is currently a student at The University of Victoria. Each individual has already been through the transition to post-secondary and wishes it was smoother; we hope to make the transition easier for others as we learn as well. Additionally, our pod focuses explicitly on areas over which other learners have some level of control. These areas we discuss include sleep, diet, social connections, and mindset.

We will be directing our Interactive Learning Resource towards individuals transitioning from Grade 12 to University, and hope that this is something they would be able to complete before their next big step. These students may be completing this course as a way to prepare themselves for the upcoming pressures of being a university student. They may want to learn more about their own mental health priorities and find ways to maintain good mental health while coping with the new and stressful demands placed on them. These learners may want to learn how their diet, sleep, mindset, and social supports can impact their mental health, stress levels, and academic performance. The transition from high school to university can be daunting, and they may want to set up realistic goals for maintaining their good mental health or find ways to cope effectively with stress and continue to succeed academically. The students may already have an understanding of what mental health is or know what they want to improve, but we also want them to reflect on their own experiences and use them to better understand themselves in relation to the material. Through this resource, we can give gr.12 students opportunities to learn the importance of sleep, regular nutrition, social relationships, and a growth mindset in reducing stress and maintaining good mental health while in university.

References

Awang, M. M., Kutty, F. M., & Ahmad, A. R. (2014). Perceived social support and well-being: First-year student experience in university. International Education Studies, 7(13)https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v7n13p261

BBC Stories. (2017). Struggling with mental health at university – BBC. [Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJZDzJdJfYU&t=50s

Hughes, G. J., & Byrom, N. C. (2019). Managing student mental health: The challenges faced by academics on professional healthcare courses. Journal of Advanced Nursing (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), 75(7), 1539–1548. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1111/jan.13989 

World Health Organization. (2019). Mental disorders. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders–

World Health Organization. (2018). Mental Health: strengthening our response. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response