Studies, Examinations and Results Major Causes of Anxiety Among Students: NCERT Survey Reveals

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) surveyed over 3.79 lakh students from 36 states and UTs. As per report, 'Anonymity of participants was ensured by making the name column optional, allowing students the comfort, privacy and independence to respond.'

Why This Survey On Mental Health

To take forward the vision of NEP, Manodarpan, an initiative of the Ministry of Education (MoE) as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is aimed to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional well-being during the times of COVID-19 and beyond. The Manodarpan Cell, NCERT undertakes several activities which focus on extending support and addressing the mental health concerns like stress and anxiety of a target population (students, teachers and families).

What is MANODARPAN?

MANODARPAN is an initiative by Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of India (GOI) aims to provide psychosocial support for mental health and well-being of students during the COVID outbreak and beyond.
The Manodarpan Cell of the NCERT undertook the task of conducting the survey to help understand the perceptions of school students on aspects related to their mental health and well-being. It collected information from students across gender and grades - middle state (6-8) and secondary stage (9 to 12) between January to March 2022.

Contribution Of NEP 2020

The National Education Policy 2020 emphasises students' mental health and well-being in order to provide holistic development.
The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 envisions the 'aim of education will not only be cognitive development, but also building character and creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with the key 21st century skills' such as communication, cooperation, team work and resilience.

Percentage of Students Responses on Aspects of Mental Health

Criterias

To provide a comprehensive understanding on different aspects of the student's mental health the findings are reported as students perception of:
(i) their own-selves
(ii) self, as viewed in the social context
(iii) satisfaction with life (personal and school)
(iv) emotions experienced,
(v) fears and challenges
(vi) strategies for coping and managing their emotions.

Girls Vs Boys

Although happiness was the most commonly experienced emotion, boys responded experiencing marginally higher than girls. This was followed by anxiousness, with higher responses by girls than boys. Also higher percentage of girls reported feeling anxious about their studies, examination and results and also reported mood swings, feeling tired, tearful and lonely.
While girls preferred to confide in their parents or resolve by themselves, boys showed more preference towards confiding in their friends.

How Students are coping up?

Yoga and meditation, changing the way they think and writing journals were some of the coping strategies adopted, as evident in responses. Specifically, girls' responses demonstrate changing the way they think as the most employed strategy, suggesting use of the ability of self-reflection. However, boys reported a high preference for yoga and meditation.

Survey Highlights

The survey found that 81% respondents attribute studies, exams and results as major causes of anxiety.
As many as 43% of the total respondents admitted being able to quickly adapt to changes and response of students at middle stage (46%) was higher than students at secondary stage (41%).
A total of 51% students face difficulty in learning online while 28% of the respondent students are hesitant in asking questions, as per the survey.