According to the McKinsey report, Artificial Intelligence is expected to replace 2.4 million US jobs by 2030, with an additional 12 million occupational shifts. An expected 400 to 800 million people will lose their jobs due to AI.
A recent news report said, “The wave of layoffs in the IT sector continued progressing showing no signs of abating. Despite mass layoffs in 2023, job cuts have persisted this year too, with the second quarter witnessing significant job reductions-21,473 in April and 9,742 in May. However, the trend seems to be worsening again with major companies like Microsoft and Google starting the month.
Latest study revealed that there has been a sharp rise in suicides in India due to work pressure, layoffs all of which impede the mental well-being which gradually takes the form of declined mental health, depression and suicide.
India reported 1, 70,924 suicides in 2022, out of which 7.6% were by students and 2248 suicide deaths were attributed to exam failure. A study revealed that 25% of students attempted suicide before they were to write entrance exams. Over-anxious and over-ambitious parents, dysfunctional family, criticisms, comparisons with peers and lack of support in the family, alcoholism, violence, psychological and economic problems in the family increases suicidal risk.
The study and the facts on people struggling with poor mental health are alarming too. Students burdened by academic pressure, societal expectations, and a hectic world are experiencing a surge in anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation. This hidden crisis of mental health problems among the young population not only impacts their well-being but also threatens to dim the vibrant light of India’s future. It is a crisis demanding immediate action.
The academic demands that create stress, anxiety and burnout in students’ lives include:
heavy workloads,
high expectations, pressure to excel and perform well in exams,
competitive environments, and the pursuit of academic success
These factors can take a toll on students’ mental health.
Our society holds academic excellence in high esteem and is viewed as a means of ensuring a successful future. Parents and schools are always in a hurry to get career counselling done to students to enable them to make informed choices about their career. Most of the time, parents would’ve already made the career choices for their children leaving them to pursue something which they are never passionate about. Every other parent wants their child to become an engineer or Doctor. There is absolutely no freedom for the child to choose the course he/she wants in most of the Indian Families. Children are sent to NEET/JEE coaching factories where they are pressurised beyond measure to crack these exams. The focus by these premiere institutions is on cracking NEET or JEE only. The sad reality is, nobody is concerned in making an individual become a doctor or engineer who can contribute positively to society or mankind.
Now is the time to pause, question and reflect. Are we preparing our students to be equipped enough to combat the huge adversities such as recession, AI taking over jobs, work pressure, pressure of meeting familial and societal expectations?” Are we helping our children to cope with these obvious challenges that they will be facing in the near future? We hardly have an answer to this!
As an educator, I do believe that scoring perfect marks is quite easy. Getting into the dream job is easier. What remains difficult is to sustain and grow in a job for which one needs to be adaptable, is willing to relearn and unlearn, collaborate, accept criticism, rejection and failure. It is right at this point of time that I recommend career counselling sessions giving emphasis not only to make career choices but also to endure the adversities that a career demands.
The phase of career counselling must change. It has to incorporate specific modules wherein students are groomed and not just to explore career options or develop a plan to achieve the goals, but to enable an individual to be prepared to withstand the hardships these choices throw at them. Equip students to cope up with the pressure, accept setbacks and failures and change it into opportunities. Developing resilience is key.
A child must be given courage and freedom to embrace their uniqueness which is of prime importance. The courage to be different means two main things. One, challenge the status quo and two, have the risk-taking appetite to do things differently.
Train students to understand that one needs to be different to be noticed and is respected for what they bring to the table. Help students create a positive impact with their efforts, allowing them to think big. Let us see our students progress in leaps and bounds and create sustainable progress in their lives.
Starting from Class VI, students should receive education on mental health. At the very least, schools can organise seminars and discussions to promote awareness. It’s crucial that we foster awareness about how to effectively support our children. Equipping teachers with the necessary training is of paramount importance. Channeling emotions through effective communication, strengthening the peer support and family support systems helps prevent burnout, self-harm and suicidal tendencies in students.
We all have unique experiences with varying degrees of vulnerabilities. There can be multiple triggers that can affect our mental health. We can, however, support students’ mental well-being by way of:
Creating a supportive environment.
Promoting open dialogue.
Providing access to mental health resources.
Addressing systemic factors that contribute to these triggers.
The issue of mental health in the student community requires a collective effort from families, schools, and society at large to nurture a supportive and open environment where young people can seek help, feel heard, and prioritise their mental well-being.
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