By Erica Arce
Secondary Counsellor
ILS Lead
In this hyper-connected world, balancing academic demands, social relationships, extracurricular commitments, and personal growth becomes a challenging task that requires considerable amount of effort and resilience.
According to UNICEF, approximately 1 in 7 adolescents (10–19 years old) experiences a mental health condition. Anxiety and depressive disorders are becoming the most common mental health condition among teens. Unfortunately, many students suffer in silence due to stigma, lack of awareness, or fear of judgment.
These conditions often emerge during the critical period of adolescence and can significantly impact academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being if left unaddressed. Unlike physical illness, mental health challenges can be invisible. A student might appear to be doing just fine- attending class, completing schoolwork, socializing but deep inside, they could be battling constant worry, panic attacks, or overwhelming fear of failure.
These are the common factors that contribute to these mental health challenges among students:
Academic pressure- stressing oneself to get high grades and meet expectations can often lead to burnout.
Social media and Peer comparison- seeing the curated lives of others online often make them feel inadequate and excluded.
Family expectations- high expectations or family conflicts can deeply impact a student’s emotional well-being.
Peer relationships- navigating friendships, romantic relationships, social dynamics, and issues like bullying or being excluded can create ongoing emotional strain.
Uncertainty about the future- concerns about careers, university admissions, and life after school can feel overwhelming.
Life transitions- big changes in life like loss of a loved one, separation, moving to a new country, adapting to a new culture or dealing with gender identity related issues can contribute to long term stress as they navigate these challenges.
Early intervention, such as counseling, supportive environments, home-school collaboration, and mental health awareness is essential to improving outcomes. At Northbridge International School Cambodia (NISC), we have a streamlined referral system where students have access to counselling support. In case external support is needed due to the complexity of the case, families are assisted through referral to specialists. We also have a dedicated Inclusion and Pastoral team that helps out in promoting healthy well-being among students through monitoring school attendance and parent collaboration meetings. Students also get to learn about mental health and coping mechanisms through International Life Skills class and assemblies.
Supporting adolescents facing mental health challenges involves showing empathetic understanding, being non-judgmental, and promoting access to professional help as a normal and essential part of care.
Here are some ways to offer support and build stronger connection:
Practice open communication – be present, listen without judgment and acknowledge their feelings.
Normalize talking about emotions – this creates safe space and builds trust.
Encourage them to seek support– let them know it's okay to reach out when they need help.
Promote balanced and healthy lifestyle – make self-care a priority through proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise as these can significantly impact their overall well-being and resilience.
References:
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