3. Preparing Indonesia's Next Generation with Good Mental Health To Survive In the Global Society
First of all, who is the closest generation that will continue the nation's dream? Of course, one of the closest ones is the university students. Then, what will this generation face in the future? There are so many world-wide competitions in getting a job, the social media life that can be so tough, the post condition after this pandemic, etc. from those obstacles there will be risk related to the mental health such as depression, insomnia, anxiety, eating disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and many more. Those mental issues can happen to our next generation and none of that is trivial. When it comes to our mental health, the impact can be massive. That is why preparing the university students to be socially aware with their mental health is very important since they are the closest generation that will carry the future of Indonesia and so that they can survive in society or the world.
C. Argumentation
Mental problems frequently begin in childhood or adolescence, although therapy does not begin for several years. Although interventions with early incipient disorders may assist lower the severity of main disorders and prevent subsequent disorders, further research on acceptable therapies for early incipient cases and long-term evaluation of the impact of early intervention on secondary prevention is needed. (Kessler, Amminger, Aguilar-Gaxiola, Alonso, Lee, & Üstün, 2007) By the age of 14, over a half of the teenagers had met the criteria for at least one condition. Simple phobias appeared first (during early childhood), but the highest risk periods for severe depression and drug abuse problems were in adolescence. Early onset (by the age 14) problems were linked to sustained behavioral and emotional functioning deficits in late adolescence (by age 18). Furthermore, early beginning of disorders (years 15–18) was associated with a higher probability of co-occurring disorders than later onset (ages 15–18). (Giaconia, Reinherz, Silverman, Pakiz, Frost, & Cohen, 1994)
Mental disorders are as common among college students as they are among non-students of the same age group, and the frequency and severity of these problems appear to be increasing. The goal of this paper is to examine the research literature on college student mental health and make comparisons to the literature on adolescent and young adult populations in general. (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010) According to the researchers, personal stigma was both positively and adversely associated with measures of help seeking. Although perceived public stigma was significantly higher than personal stigma, it was not significantly connected with seeking help. The findings can be used to influence efforts to lessen stigma's function as a barrier to getting treatment. (Eisenberg, Downs, Golberstein, & Zivin, 2009)
Many college students either face the onset or an aggravation of mental health and substance use problems. Because of the particular characteristics of college students, it is necessary to list essential topics to consider while working with this group. Practitioners will be better able to treat college kids if they become familiar with the special challenges associated with their developmental stage and setting. (Pedrelli, Nyer, Yeung, Zulauf, & Wilens, 2014) University mental health practitioners must continue to make strategic efforts to convey knowledge about mental health services to all students, given the high incidence rates and severity of mental health disorders. (Yorgason, Linville, & Zitzman, 2010)
As a college student ourselves, we found that depression, anxiety, loneliness, and other mental health problems are increasing by the time we went to college compared to our years in highschool, middle school, and elementary school. A Boston University mental health researcher and a co–principal investigator of the nationwide survey, Sarah K. Lipson said that half of college students in fall 2020 screened positive for depression and/or anxiety. Especially as the pandemic grew over time, According to the survey, 83 percent of students said their mental health had a negative impact on their academic performance in the previous month, and two-thirds of college students are lonely and depressed most high prevalence that reflects the pandemic's toll and the social distancing required to combat it. Lipson also suggested that faculty should be flexible with deadlines and remind students that their skill isn't exclusively proved by their ability to obtain a perfect mark in one difficult semester. At a higher level within colleges and universities, administrators should focus on providing students with mental health services that emphasize prevention, coping, and resilience. The fall 2020 survey data revealed a significant “treatment gap,” meaning that many students who screen positive for depression or anxiety are not receiving mental health services. It is also important to note that rising mental health challenges are not unique to the college setting—instead, the survey findings are consistent with a broader trend of declining mental health in adolescents and young adults.
In Indonesia, Mental illness has been a stigma for so many years, and still remains that way. However, no matter how people with mental health problems try to be normal and deny that there is anything wrong with them, deep down, we know that mental illness is a real problem and something has to be done about it. Some people accepted the fact that anxiety and depression cannot be cured. Even though mental therapy exists, it was never really an option since in Indonesia, it is still kind of a taboo topic. A person struggling with their mental health may experience this due to stress, loneliness, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, death of a loved one, suicidal thoughts, sadness, addiction, ADHD, various mood disorders, or other mental illnesses of varying degrees, and learning disabilities. The epidemic, the effect of social media, and altering cultural values that are becoming more extrinsically driven (a successful career, more money, more followers and likes) rather than intrinsically motivated (a successful profession, generating more money, gaining more followers and likes) (being a good member of the community). The social pressure from parents, lecturers and teachers, friends, and even strangers that are applied to college students are also the biggest cause of mental health problems.
Fortunately, the world is evolving and there are more and more people who put aside the stigma and actually get some help to cure their mental illness. Survey finds 94 percent of students would not judge someone for seeking out help for mental health. Almost half of students say they perceive that others may think more poorly of them if they did seek help. People need to realize that in order to make the world a better place is not only about educating them academically, but also nurturing their health, mentaly and physically. Students need to be encouraged that peers are not judging them anymore. (McAlpine, 2021)
d. References
division of adolescent and school health . (2021, May 12). Mental health . From Centers for disease control and prevention : https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm
