At least 74 per cent of the country’s students who are seeking university admission are suffering from depression.
A study by Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) revealed that 26 per cent of the students suffer from mild depression, 26 per cent from moderate depression, and 22 per cent suffer from severe depression.
The study also stated that factors have been identified behind both the increase and decrease of depression.
Gender, blackmail, family problems, serious illness, Covid-19 diagnosis, academic results, and psychological problems have been identified as factors behind the increase in depression.
On the other hand, confidence in preparing for admission tests, exercise, study time, and religious practice play a role in reducing depression.
Although family income and social media use have been identified as the catalyst for depression, the study also revealed that there was no relation between the habit of smoking, marital status, love affairs and religious beliefs with depression among the admission candidates.
Female students are almost twice as likely to suffer from moderate depression as boys.
The correlation between recent experiences of blackmail and familial issues in students often leads to a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing severe depression, often two to three times more than their peers.
Fostering awareness about physical fitness and religious discipline are influential for alleviating depression.
It’s crucial to prioritise not just the students’ physical health but also their mental well-being.
Beyond academic success, a collaborative effort from families, educational institutions, society, and the government is imperative to nurture a resilient generation, both physically and mentally.
The government and non-government actors, universities and families, society and politics all should work to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the teenagers as mental stress and instability are hindrance for their balanced growth.
Since, physical wellbeing is neglected; nobody cares about mental health in the country. But we cannot let everything continue in this way.
