Je-an Cedric Cruz, Staff Writer
Featured image courtesy of HD Image Lib
The School Mental Health-ASSIST in Ontario said that mental health is a state of balance between physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being of an individual.
However, students have academic stressors that may or may not impact their mental health. These are GPA pressures, bell curved grades, and work demands that students have to deal with. How do these things affect one’s state of mind?
“One’s concern over their GPA can profoundly impact their mental health in negative ways, especially if it involves perfectionism or associating one’s self-worth with their grades,” says Indie Kaur, president of Active Minds at York. “It’s okay to be worried about getting good grades up to a certain point.”
She says that a method that has worked for her is taking the focus away from grades and instead mastering the subject matter instead. Students should focus on learning the material which will then be automatically reflected in their grades. She adds that test-taking strategies also help.
“But remember that you are more than your GPA. You are a holistic individual who is deserving of respect and love regardless of anything else,” she says.
“If the professor says that he will bell curve a grade, it is fine. If not, tough it out, since it is the grade you earned,” says Sheldon Wiseberg, a third-year kinesiology student.
According to Wiseberg, there were several classes he took where the grades were bell curved, and the grade he got did increase but it never affected his mental health. Furthermore, most students tend to work a part-time job while attending school.
“School affects an individual in positive ways when it’s not all about academia. Social interactions and extra-curricular activities are needed to maintain a balance in one’s school experience with academic study,” says Wiseberg.
It’s important to keep a healthy balance between work and school in order to maintain your mental health and not suffer, he says.
The Canadian Mental Health Association states that mental illnesses can take in many forms ranging from anxiety, mood and eating disorders, depression, schizophrenia, self-injury, suicide, and violence.
York has Personal Counselling Services, and Counselling and Disability Services which offer academic and psychological support to members of the York community.
PCS and CDS offer workshops on a monthly basis that offer help with personal, emotional, and academic issues that can arise in a student’s life. Having a healthy mind is just as important as having a healthy body, so don’t neglect what’s most important.
Follow us on instagram, @excalphotos
