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“Belonging predicts better persistence, engagement, and mental health,” says the scholarly article “College Students’ Sense of Belonging: A National Perspective.” While a feeling of belonging varied across the surveyed colleges, historically underrepresented students reported a lower sense of belonging across the board at 4-year schools, while 2-year institutions had better results. Meanwhile, the Journal of Adolescent Health explored “College Students’ Sense of Belonging and Mental Health Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic” with some telling outcomes for DEI. “Despite reporting high levels of belonging pre- and post-COVID, consistent with past research, underrepresented racial/ethnic minority/first-generation students reported a relatively lower sense of belonging compared to peers,” says the article. This finding was critical, as the research found that a sense of inclusion helped to buffer feelings of depression and anxiety during the pandemic. The paper concludes, “College students’ sense of belonging continues to be an important predictor of mental health.” How can you put inclusion at the forefront of your DEI efforts? Just ask Western Technical College! Find out more on our latest blog, "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Driving DEI Data for Student Success": https://ow.ly/Qw3V50QlZk4 #bestpractice #bestpractices #communitycollege #communitycolleges #collegemarketing #educationforall #educationmatters #highereducationmarketing #mediapreferences #mediaprefs #studentdata #2yearcollegeexperts 

Yes! I passed my Education Doctorate assignment! 🥳 Pursuing doctoral education to explore the lived educational experiences of children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is profoundly important. It not only deepens our understanding of this complex and often misunderstood profile within the autism spectrum, but it also paves the way for developing more effective, individualised educational strategies. Unfortunately, research suggests PDA’ers are facing a mental health crisis (PDA Society,2024) with high levels of mental distress and mental health challenges, including: anxiety, depression, isolation and loneliness, low self esteem, self harm and suicidal thoughts. It is mentioned that a cross societal lack of awareness and understanding of PDA is one of the primary reasons for this. It is clear, educational institutions need to do more to support this group of children. My research focus aims to address the following questions: 🧠 1) What impact do the embedded normative routines of institutions have on children with PDA? 🧠 2) In the everyday lived experiences of school, do children with PDA feel a sense of presence within their educational setting? 🧠 3) How can balance be achieved between the power elements inherent within research to allow the participant voice to achieve equal prominence? I hope that my work can empower educators to foster an inclusive atmosphere where every child can thrive, promoting equity and enhancing the overall quality of education. It is my wish that scholarly work can inspire policy changes, inform best practices, and ultimately contribute to a more compassionate and knowledgeable society. #PDAAwareness #AutismAcceptance #PDA #InclusiveEducation #Neurodiversity #EducationForAll #AutismSpectrum #PathologicalDemandAvoidance #EducationalEquity #SupportAllStudents #InclusiveLearning #AutismSupport #EducationInnovation #UnderstandingPDA #EmpowerEveryChild #Autismawareness #EducationDoctorate #EdD

Mental Health in Universities Thursday is World Mental Health Day, the theme is work. There was a thoughtful anonymous piece from an academic member of university staff (“the Secret Lecturer”) in the Sunday Times this weekend about the rising number of students self-reporting mental health difficulties, the impact on staff and the role of a lecturer in the preparation of students for life and work. It is concerning but not surprising to read this perspective at a time when we are supporting so many universities which are already facing: 🧑🏾🎓financial difficulty due to rising costs, capped tuition fees and a decline in international students fee increases. 👩🏻🎓unions campaigning for better pay, reduced reliance an precarious /casual contracts and reduced workload for academic staff ( particularly when staff numbers are reducing). 🧑🎓the need for staff to constantly evolve with an organisation seeking to adapt to survive in the increasingly competitive market. ⛈️Is this the perfect storm? [photo of the hard copy of the Sunday Times newspaper article entitled “My students tell me they’re too stressed to learn. I don’t dare challenge them.”] #HumanResources #EmploymentLaw #HigherEducation #WorldMentalHealthDay #Universities

🧠"Mental health-related jobs are projected to grow three times more than the rate for all jobs [in the next decade]." The pandemic clearly exposed the gaps in mental health resources as people have struggled to find affordable, accessible, and culturally responsive treatment. I'm excited to see that the profession is estimated to grow and hopefully address those gaps in mental healthcare. This is a crucial time to encourage our BIPOC students in high school to pursue a profession in mental health. However, the main complaint I've heard from students is that they don't have the finances or the time to pursue a master's degree, they need to get a job right away and help support their families. 👂 What can we do to encourage BIPOC students to join the field, and address their concerns about the affordability and accessibility of graduate school? https://lnkd.in/gS6MUrhZ

"Crushed by Expectations: The Weight of Academic Pressure" This young boy is trapped in a large clamp, with books above and below him, symbolizing the immense pressure and burden of academic stress. Here are some key points that can be drawn from this image: Academic Pressure: The boy looks overwhelmed, indicating students' emotional and psychological strain due to heavy academic expectations. Mental and Emotional Strain: The expression on the boy's face suggests feelings of helplessness, frustration, or even despair, highlighting the negative impact of excessive academic pressure on children's mental health. Imbalance in Education: The clamp pressing the boy with books on either side may symbolize an educational system focusing more on grades and rote learning rather than holistic development and emotional well-being. Need for Reform: The image may prompt a discussion on how the current educational practices can be reformed to reduce stress and allow students to thrive in a more balanced, supportive environment. Childhood Suppressed by Expectations: The boy's tight confinement in the clamp could be interpreted as childhood being restricted and suppressed by unrealistic academic or societal expectations, limiting personal growth and creativity.

Hello connections! Today we are seeing about the important topic focuses how academic life will involve in student's stress? Academic Pressures Affect Students : Stress has become part of students’ academic life due to the various factors contribute to higher education students stress levels. It can lead to various physical and mental health complications, including headaches, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, and depression. As a result, academic performance may be compromised, absenteeism may increase, and motivation may diminish. The five dimensions of sources such as, ☆ personal inadequacy, ☆fear of failure, ☆interpersonal difficulties with teachers, ☆teacher pupil relationship, ☆inadequate study facilities ☆Fear of asking about their rights were also obtained. Understanding the sources of stress would facilitate the development of effective counselling modules and intervention strategies by school psychologists and counsellors in order to help students alleviate stress. #academicpressure #students #changethesystem

Academic pressure has become an undeniable aspect of modern education, affecting students at various levels. The relentless pursuit of high grades, coupled with competition for college admissions and scholarships, places immense stress on students. The pressure to excel in exams, meet parental expectations, and secure a promising future can lead to anxiety, burnout, and even mental health issues. Striking a balance between academic performance and overall well-being is crucial to fostering a healthy learning environment. Institutions, educators, and parents play pivotal roles in alleviating this pressure by promoting holistic education and acknowledging the diverse strengths and challenges of each student. #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinkers #designthinking

Universities need to be held accountable for their students' mental health. It’s heartbreaking to see bright, talented students suffer because of the sheer lack of empathy and compassion from the university's side. Universities exist because of students, not the other way around. What good are your 100% placement records, state-of-the-art infrastructure, or high rankings if you fail to protect the mental well-being of the very students that build your reputation? Students are being pushed to the edge, harassed, and left with nowhere to turn, to the point where some are making the devastating decision to end their lives. This is an urgent crisis. It’s not enough to boast about accomplishments if you’re neglecting the emotional and psychological needs of your students. No one wants to take responsibility. Deans blame vice chancellors, who then blame registars, who blame someone else. Higher education institutions—do better. Shame on any school that allows its students to break under pressure without offering support. Mental health matters, and it’s about time the system starts reflecting that. #iitguwahati

Today's students have had it tough. They're impacted by so many challenges across our wider society. And although we know universities have been developing some excellent practice through the University Mental Health Charter programme to support them better, our wider government has failed to do enough to tackle the mounting rates of mental illness in our university communities. Up to 40% of students now meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition 😨 That's why Student Minds have laid out our vision for the next government to improve student mental health through immediate and long-term policy reform. I know the team have worked long and hard with students, clinicians and HE staff (read more about their methodology on p39 of the manifesto, link below) to form a set of ambitious and holistic recommendations for how the government can improve mental health in our universities in the years ahead. Well done team for getting it out there - Dom Smithies Yeme Onoabhagbe and our entire student Steering Group! Read the manifesto here > https://lnkd.in/ej_cpYrB And if your organisation shares our vision for the next government, please add your endorsement here > https://lnkd.in/eHQW_c_J

🌟 Understanding Youth Wellbeing and its link with Academic Success📚   ·      Today's youth navigate through a myriad of challenges, from the looming threat of climate change to navigating intricate family dynamics, all of which profoundly impact their overall wellbeing. ·      A study by Cardenas et al (2022) explored the intricate relationship between youth mental health and academic performance. The findings shed light on a crucial correlation: enhanced wellbeing among students not only fosters personal growth but also significantly predicts higher test scores months down the line. With a robust dataset encompassing 3400 high school students, the study unequivocally demonstrated that lower levels of depression directly correlate with superior academic outcomes.   Action: ·      Schools must prioritize mental health support to boost student well-being and academic success. By nurturing the mental and emotional wellness of our students, we pave the way for unparalleled academic success and holistic development. ·      Together, let's empower our youth to surmount challenges and seize opportunities, propelling them towards a future brimming with promise and prosperity.   Reference: Cárdenas D, Lattimore F, Steinberg D, Reynolds KJ. Youth well-being predicts later academic success. Sci Rep. 2022 Feb 8;12(1):2134. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-05780-0. PMID: 35136114; PMCID: PMC8826920.   Link to full text article: https://lnkd.in/dCJ3Jppf  #YouthWellbeing #AcademicSuccess #MentalHealthMatters #EducationForAll #NextGenerationLeaders