“Some of the common triggers of stress in teens might be anxiety to perform well in academics, such as getting into a good college, peer pressure, interpersonal relationships, or body image issues,” says Sakshi Khurana, Research Fellow at Harvard University’s Weisz Lab for Youth Mental Health.
In this episode, we will explore how school can impact students’ mental health and the many factors that can influence how students feel and think. Stress related to homework, academic pressure, comparisons, and friendships can affect students’ well-being. Through our interview with Friends Select School psychologist Natan Gottesman, we learn how anxiety plays a central role in students’ school experiences.
Since school can be so stressful, it is important to take a break and do things that make you feel happy and calm. Whether it’s reading, making art, writing, walking, hanging out with friends, or cooking, these activities can be great stress relievers and allow you to step away from the worries of school and instead focus on something you enjoy doing while at peace.
Sources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-youth/mental-health/index.html
- https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report-october#:~:text=Our%202020%20survey%20shows%20that,already%20reporting%20symptoms%20of%20depression.
- https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/student-mental-health-education-factsheet
- https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2017/state-nation.pdf
- Interview: Natan Gottesman
