It’s a very
different world than even ten or 15 years ago
for kids out there. What with things like increased pressure on the university application process,
college visits, great grades and high academic performance on top of the social intricacies of being a teenager, there's a lot to stress young people out. Director of Wellbeing at
Wellington College International Shanghai Jo Evans speaks to us about how to help students
deal with modern-day anxiety.
Now, more than ever, is the time
to be talking about mental health
in kids 'As the stigma surrounding
mental health issues decreases,
opportunity for discussion of a
once-taboo subject is generating
a greater understanding about
the causes of stress and anxiety
– particularly in young people. It would be unfair to
expect young people to avoid
stress completely given the
increasingly fast-paced world
that we live in. What is vital,
however, is that they learn
how to cope with stress and
anxiety and that parents and
communities know how to
support young people.'
What are some of the main
Shanghai stressors? 'One significant cause of stress
and anxiety experienced by young people is in relation to
study and, in particular, exams.
Whilst this is a concern at
specific times of the year, it is
worth noting that the adverse
effects of stress are more
prevalent in young people
living within international and
expat communities because of
the demands that come with
this way of living. Friendship
groups can change frequently
as people move with greater
regularity. Being apart from
extended family in home
countries and consequent
issues with identity can cause
significant anxiety, particularly
in teenagers. Whilst we
cannot avoid many of these
situations, schools and parents
can be open and honest about
transition and the feelings
surrounding it, both positive
and negative.'
A positive communication
routine is key 'Communication is key to any
support, at home or school. We
know that young people are
often reluctant to talk about
their feelings with adults for
fear of being judged. The same
is perhaps true for adults.
Because of this, it is vital that
parents establish a positive
communication routine at
home so that problems can be
discussed at an early stage and
quickly addressed to prevent
them becoming larger obstacles
at a later date.'
Parents should avoid trying to
‘fix’ the problem 'The difficulty many parents
have when talking to their
children who are experiencing
anxiety or stress is in feeling
the need to ‘fix’ the problem by
telling young people what to
do. Often the things that young
people get anxious or upset
over may seem trivial to adults,
but it is worth remembering
that those feelings are very
real to youngsters and should
be always treated as valid and
not dismissed. Many times,
the solution for the parent does
not fit the child’s needs; this
may cause frustration and a
reluctance to open up about a
problem in the future.
Open questioning and
coaching can help discussion
move towards a self-directed
solution and can be a very
powerful tool in helping to
build up trust. If there is a
culture of open and non-judgmental communication,
then changes in behaviour
from the usual can be seen,
discussed and appropriate
action taken to minimise the
impact of any worries.'
How to help your student cope
with stress and anxiety 'It is no secret that a good diet,
exercise, relaxation, sleep and
the security of a supportive
network of family, friends and
trusted adults can help build
resilience in young people. All
of these aspects of developing a "psychological immune system" make up part of the Wellbeing
curriculum at Wellington.
We recognise that, in order to
achieve academic excellence,
we must first ensure that our
pupils are happy, healthy and
resilient. Education is more
than academics. It is with that
in mind that we consider the
family discussions around the
dinner table, a rainy afternoon
spent bowling, or a spring-time
Mobike adventure around
Shanghai as being of as much
importance as the academic
work our pupils do.
At Wellington, our values as a College recognise that
having fun, and spending time
building relationships with
our family and friends, is as
much a part of preparation for the future as achieving
good grades.'
