How Competitive Educational Environments Contribute Mental Illnesses
Although the nature of competitive examinations makes many students more capable and determined to achieve their best, it has major adverse effects on the minds of young learners. The word “exam” has become the epitome of stress and just the term strikes tension in many. It has been estimated that one in every five teenagers in India is highly susceptible to mental health issues. It is because most are in constant fear of being outperformed by their peers. The fear of “study or get surpassed” instills in them a state of anxiety that does irreversible damage over the years.
Fear commonly plagues students like rats causing the black death. Many students are pressured by their family and societal expectations to perform well. They stay in their rooms for as long as 20 hours in a stretch to prepare for the upcoming prestigious national examinations like JEE or NEET. They don’t make friends and narrow down their social life just to get a ranking in these incredibly competitive exams that have an acceptance rate of less than 0.1%. Getting a rank means the world to aspirants but getting rejected instills a sense of inferiority, or throws them into depression, or in worst cases forces them to commit suicide. Shutting yourself inside to focus and not getting results is probably the most undermining thing to self-confidence.
Teenagers in higher classes also have anxiety about being overlooked if not performing well. They start feeling insecure in their social environments and subconsciously start comparing themselves with their seemingly more accomplished counterparts and then spiral deeper into a feeling of vulnerability. The fear of being rejected by their social group and experiencing external shame takes a toll on many students. This makes them more likely to start developing stress and ultimately mental problems.
Children who are affected by mental problems are often neglected by their families who continue their busy lives to the point that their case becomes much more severe and protracted. They are much less likely to become more successful which is ironic considering that most study to become successful.
Competitions increase the pace at which we live our lives. We are often blinded by the sweet result in the future and neglect the real happiness of the present. Mental health issues in these competitive educational environments can be mitigated if we all start taking things slower and less seriously and take breaks once in a while to calm ourselves. As we all are told by our elders, life does not end from a single examination. Many who scored below par are much happier and even more successful than their supposedly more learned contemporary. In conclusion, we can reach higher limits if we break free from the chains of scoring well on a test and instead aim at doing what we always wanted to do and which will nurture much more creativity and satisfaction which in turn will be better for our mental health and general productivity.
