Around one-fifth of university students struggle with academic pressure, making mental health in young people a global public health concern. Resources for mental health are scarce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) among Southeast Asia, and university counselling programmes are not frequently established. 

When students feel overburdened by the responsibilities of their education, it's known as academic pressure. They feel pressure to hurry up. To meet their academic objectives, they expend more energy. According to Pacific Teen Treatment, there are various places where pressure might originate. 

The Downside of High Expectations: Stress, Anxiety, and Lost Potential

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High grades and a desire to succeed are highly valued by South Asian parents, who frequently take great satisfaction in their children's academic accomplishments. A lot of South Asian children's future professional success may be paved by this emphasis on education.

Unfortunately, the same parental expectations put on a lot of other South Asian youngsters result in a great deal of stress for them. Many South Asian youngsters break under the constant pressure to improve themselves rather than flourishing from it. They exhibit various signs of anxiety and sadness, along with a host of ailments that prevent them from attending school while they heal. Furthermore, a great number of South Asian youngsters start thinking about suicide at the age of nine, thinking that their parents will stop wanting them if they do not meet certain scholastic expectations.

When South Asian parents define their child based on their academic performance, the youngsters who fall short of their parents' frequently exaggerated expectations start to internalise the negative signals that their parents are sending. They believe they are essentially imperfect, undeserving, unlovable, and unimportant.

This has detrimental long-term effects on the child's general happiness and self-worth as they grow, as well as their physical and mental health. According to research, kids with poor self-esteem are even less likely to do well in school, find it harder to make friends, and find it more difficult to find a life partner as adults.

Psychological Effects Of Academic Pressure

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Academic pressure can have a wide range of negative effects on a young person. Teenagers who are under academic pressure may exhibit emotional and/or physical signs of stress. A young person may struggle with any of the following due to extreme academic pressure:

Seeking Solutions

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We can alter this style of thinking as a new generation. Discuss your academic decisions with your parents over a meal, and show them how to perform research and learn about the state of academia today. Next, demonstrate to your community that education is only one aspect of life's puzzle. Discuss how your hobbies or volunteer work have aided you in reaching your professional goals. Demonstrate the detrimental effects of societal and academic pressure on an individual's health. Finally, give your viewpoint. The worry that we will let our loved ones down is one thing that prevents us every time. But prioritise yourself. 

For professional support, talk to a mental health professional who can help you understand the impact of academic pressure on mental health. Check us out at Heart It Out today!