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More teens in Singapore seeking help for school stress

More teens in Singapore seeking help for school stress
SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - More teenagers from top schools are seeking help at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for school-related stress. IMH said that stress-related, anxiety and depressive disorders are common conditions seen at its Child Guidance Clinics, which treat children aged six to 18. The clinics saw an average of about 2,400 new cases every year from 2012 to 2017. Since IMH does not track the causes of the disorders, it does not have statistics on cases related to school stress. However, Dr Lim Choon Guan, senior consultant and deputy chief of IMH's department of developmental psychiatry, said: "Over the past few years, I have seen more teenagers in our clinic who are from top schools and report experiencing school-related stress." Replying to The New Paper's queries, Dr Lim said this trend does not necessarily mean more youth are feeling stressed about their studies but suggests they are more willing to seek help. This may lead them to have unrealistic expectations.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/more-teens-in-singapore-seeking-help-for-school-stress-at-imh

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More children and teens are stressed out Last year, a Primary 5 pupil fell 17 floors from his bedroom window on the day he was supposed to take his exam papers home. He had never fared poorly in his examinations from Primary 1 to 4, and scored an average of 70 marks. His mother would cane him on his palm "lightly" for every mark he fell short of her stipulated standard of 70 per cent. But he failed his Higher Chinese and mathematics in his latest mid-year exam. Academic Stress and its Sources Among University Students Reddy K. J, Menon K. R, Thattil A. How to help children and teens manage their stress In the short term, stress can push a child to practice for her piano recital or inspire a teen to study when he’d rather be out with friends. But chronic stress is different. Left unchecked, long-term stress can contribute to a long list of physical and mental health problems.

Teenage Depression: Signs, Causes and Treatment ​Learn about the warning signs of depression in teenagers, and ​its causes and treatments from the Department of Psychiatry at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Teenagers in Singapore face a lot of pressure, which can potentially lead to depression. Not unlike adults, teenagers in Singapore are under a lot of pressure. Going through the hormonal changes of puberty, they need to deal with peer group influences, major exams and transition to more adult social roles. Parents need to be aware that these demands can be overwhelming and precipitate depression in teenagers. “Referral rates for psychiatric help in young persons with depression seem to be increasing over the years,” says Associate Professor Leslie Lim, Senior Consultant, Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth​ group.

MOE, MSF ‘very concerned’ about spike in youth suicides; experts say more support and awareness necessary SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) are “very concerned” about the spike in the number of youth suicides this year, said the ministries in a joint statement. “It is not yet a trend, but we must monitor this closely and take various measures to address it,” said spokespersons for the ministries in response to email queries from CNA. The number of suicides in Singapore rose 10 per cent last year, with suicides among boys aged 10 to 19 at a record high, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) said last week.

Teens 'more depressed and sleeping less' Image copyright Getty Images Adolescents are more likely to feel depressed and self-harm, and are less likely to get a full night's sleep, than 10 years ago, a study suggests. Yet smoking, alcohol and anti-social behaviour - often linked to mental health problems - were less common for 14-year-olds in 2015 than in 2005. Impact of Stress on Students in Secondary School or Higher Education Methods A single author (MP) searched PubMed and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published at any time in English. Search terms included academic, school, university, stress, mental health, depression, anxiety, youth, young people, resilience, stress management, stress education, substance use, sleep, drop-out, physical health with a combination of any and/or all of the preceding terms. A snowball strategy allowed for examination of references in identified articles, and inclusion of additional articles as appropriate. The author reviewed all potential articles for inclusion.

Helping children cope with stress, Lifestyle News An international study reported last year suggests that Singapore students experience higher levels of anxiety than those from many other countries. The study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) polled 540,000 students from 72 countries and economies. It showed that 66 per cent of students across all OECD countries said they were worried about poor grades in school. Among Singapore students, it was 86 per cent. Ms Tan Wei Yin, 40, for one, is careful not to over-emphasise academic results with her nine-year-old son. "One way of easing stress is by not having too much expectation when it comes to the academic," says Ms Tan, an executive in the insurance industry.

Expectation, Pressure and the Hidden Effects of Stress Rwenshaun Miller left behind the expectations of other people and it changed his health From dreamer to downer “Will you be an athlete? Will you be an entertainer? Will you sell drugs? Social Stress: The cause, effects, and solutions - Ana - Medium Resistance creates suffering. Stress happens when your mind resists what is. The only problem in your life is your mind’s resistance to life as it unfolds.” ~ Dan Millman

Teen stress rivals that of adults If you think you're stressed out, imagine being a teenager in today's society. American teens say they experience stress in patterns similar to adults, and during the school year they report stress levels even higher than those reported by adults. These were the prime conclusions of APA's poll Stress in America™: Are Teens Adopting Adults' Stress Habits? The survey of adults and teens was conducted online on behalf of APA by Harris Interactive Inc. last August. Singapore students suffer from high levels of anxiety: Study Singapore students may be topping the charts in mathematics, science and reading, but it is exacting a heavy emotional price on them. An international study suggests that Singapore students, known worldwide for academic excellence, also experience high levels of anxiety and have been exposed to bullying. The findings emerged in a study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which conducts the triennial tests called the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa). The study polled 540,000 students from 72 countries and economies to look at the connection between well-being and achievement in the Pisa tests.

Adolescent mental health Introduction Adolescence (10–19 years) is a unique and formative time. Multiple physical, emotional and social changes, including exposure to poverty, abuse, or violence, can make adolescents vulnerable to mental health problems. Stress, strain and high expectations Most people are under pressure in certain periods of their life. That’s not unnatural. It might be because homework or work have piled up or that you have taken on too many tasks, appointments and duties. After a stressful period, it is important that you relax.

Further readings describe how we have the facilities available to help. This article provides an insight to how students experience stress, highlighting the issues from their perspective. The articles also includes an avenue of help available and their contact details just in case. by tere_003 Mar 23

When teens undergo overwhelming stress, they often find it embarrass to seek help. Most are afraid to be laughed at by their peers or they feel useless. It is important to understand that seeking help is not being 'weak', it is actually an act of bravery as it is not easy for anyone to show their vulnerable side. by ytfoong002 Mar 22

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