7 Measures Taken by Universities to ease Anxiety in Students

Now, this is not to say that before the pandemic there was no anxiety in university students but after going through a global pandemic and multiple lockdowns, it has become obvious that the levels of anxiety, particularly in college students have risen drastically. We can always go back in time to ponder upon the situations and brainstorm as to how we could have made things better, but it will be of use until we take actual appropriate measures or even hit and trial new ways to mould the situation into our favour.

Further in this blog, you will read about measures that academic institutions can take to ensure that they are doing their part for their students by doing an attempt to curb anxiety;

Here are the 7 Measures Taken by Universities to ease Anxiety in Students

1. Orientation Classes around Mental Health Stigma:

One measure that universities can take at the very onset is to organize a session around mental health right from the induction day at colleges. This will prove to give a strong message to the freshers that not only does the institution that they have entered value mental health but they also really believe in it. It shows that they will be in a safe space if ever any student of that very university or college would require assistance with mental health. What this step does is that it kills the stigma around mental health at the very beginning of it. It also gives a strong message to its students that there is no stigma attached to mental health and they can talk with the professionals in this space without any hesitation. 

2. Green spaces:

Nothing nourishes better than mother nature. Have you ever wondered why you can breathe easier, focus better, and just be happy in a space filled with nature? Humans have a profound connection to nature, and putting nature into your surroundings makes you calmer, happier, and more focused. These benefits, it turns out, have existed long before our apparent sudden enthusiasm for lush settings. These healing effects of green spaces in the surroundings do wonders for people’s moods and anxieties. The more time a person spends surrounded by green spaces and nature, the more soothing effect is experienced in their mental health.

Therefore, this initiative taken by universities to promote more and more green spaces on the campus would be a great step in the direction of combating any issues regarding anxiety. 

4. Therapy Dogs 

Statistics have shown that spending even a little time with therapy dogs has done wonders for college students’ mental health. It is said that students who took part in this kind of therapy reported that they feel a sense of belonging and unconditional love while spending time with the therapy dogs. They were less likely to get homesick and feel lonely after even spending ten minutes with the dog. You will be pleasantly surprised by what wonders it does to soothe the college student’s anxiety.

Therefore many universities are actively seeking therapy dog sessions on their campuses to ease the anxiety of students. By taking this measure they are doing their small bit for removing the mental health stigmas so that the students can feel safe.

5. Wellness Plans Integrated in the Curriculum 

Another effective way to put students’ anxiety to ease is to integrate some mindful techniques, like breathwork, mindfulness, etc into their curriculum. The best part of this plan is that all the students can get to experience and practice this, regardless of whether they are anxiety-ridden or not. It will not only benefit the students who face any kind of mental health disorder but will be super helpful and effective to the masses in general. Needless to say that ‘wellness’ is for everyone.

Not only students but professors, researchers, and the other staff can also benefit from these programs when they are integrated into the institution. This will prove to be a great step in the direction of the success of removing the mental health stigma from people’s minds, especially if an esteemed university or institution does it and applies it to their curriculum, which itself sends a loud message. 

6. Avoiding Academic Burnouts 

Research shows that mental burnout can create academic pressure and can stir feelings of isolation, depression and not feeling good enough in students. Burnouts can lead to below satisfactory level performance in students which can again be a great cause of anxiety. This can create a vicious cycle of not being able to manage our daily stress and anxiety, especially in universities. The most effective way to combat burnout is to build a strong internal system within yourself to ground yourself in times of distress.

Now, let us talk about what measures can we take to prevent the academic burnout, for instance, one can be to identify where your strengths lie so that you can invest yourself in experiences in college that are rich, it will give your confidence a solid boost and will help you ‘take it easy in your academics since you already are invested in something more that interests you. Many universities offer such programs in extracurricular activities, and to avoid academic burnout, students can make themselves a part of these activities, as it will provide them with the internal strength to deal with any kind of academic pressure.

7.  University Support Groups 

This concept might be extremely beneficial to the entire movement. We are all aware that there are numerous support groups in various fields; therefore, one would wonder what makes university support groups unique.

The only difference between other support groups and university support groups is that here, one will have fellow students as supporters who have a lot in common, people who are facing similar problems, and who are most likely in the same boat as them; this will give them something to relate to on a personal level. 

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