Social media ‘perfection’ harming students
From The Royal Gazette: A 15-year-old schoolgirl warned about the perils of modern-day school life as she kicked off Mental Health Awareness Week yesterday.
McKenzie-Kohl Tuckett from Warwick Academy said children faced pressure from teachers and parents to perform well in exams, bullying from school friends and unrealistic expectations of “perfection” promoted on social media.
She highlighted research by the American Psychological Association, which showed nearly half of all teenagers admitted they suffered stress from pressures at school.
McKenzie-Kohl said: “The pressure to perform well academically was the most significant, followed by the desire to please teachers.
“In addition, the combination of schoolwork, extracurricular activities and studying for exams leads to crammed schedules. Teenagers should be encouraged to reach out to their school counsellors if they feel as if they can’t cope.”
She was speaking at Warwick Academy, the venue for the launch of the awareness campaign, which this year is focused on the mental health of young people in a fast-changing world.
McKenzie-Kohl said parents could set unrealistic expectations for their children, which could lead to burnout, anxiety and low self-esteem…