Mental health is one of the biggest challenges that the Pakistani youth is dealing with. Even the emotional well-being of the kids studying in schools is also affected for multiple reasons, such as academic stress, dysfunctional families, peer pressure, and many others. This problem manifests itself in various forms and manners, including anxiety, depression, personality disorders, eating disorders, and many more. What further fuels these problems is the lack of counseling services for them, which eventually augments the issues to an extreme limit. This is why providing students with adequate counseling services in schools and colleges is essential.
In this article, we shall talk about the significance of counseling services for students in schools and what makes it a need of the time.
The Need For Counseling Services In Schools
Here are some reasons why this article advocates initiating counseling services in Pakistani schools:
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Teaching Them To Manage Their Emotions
School-going children are at a vulnerable age. They tend to be affected by small things that adults may forgo easily. On top of that, they need to learn how to manage and regulate their emotions. Most of the time, they are overwhelmed by the deluge of emotions, affecting their emotional well-being.
It is necessary to teach them how to manage their emotions very early so they can become well-functioning adults. When they can regulate their emotions, it is possible that they won’t end up with anxiety being a constant part of their personalities throughout their lives.
The Emotional Well-being of Students is crucial for their academic success. If they are not in the right state of mind, they won’t be able to manage their studies with confidence. Hence, every school in Pakistan should focus on this.
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Academic Counseling
Different careers require different kinds of personalities that can excel in them. For instance, a person who gets stressed easily is not a good choice for the medical profession. Similarly, an introvert might not be able to become a good salesperson.
Counseling sessions in schools help the students understand their personalities better. This way, they can learn about their positive and negative traits, which further aids them in making the right decision regarding their careers. Career counseling experts and psychologists help students find the right career choices and plan their academic paths successfully.
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Managing Conflicts
Kids of the growing ages, especially those in their teens, tend to have anger issues. A lot of times, they end up getting involved in conflicts that escalate quickly. As they cannot manage their emotions, they can’t get out of such tricky situations quickly.
Counseling services in Pakistani schools should target such students specifically and help them in regulating their anger issues. If not handled earlier in age, these anger issues can augment further and become a permanent part of the personality.
Alongside this, bullying is also a significant concern in schools. In extreme conditions, it can cause irreparable damage. Regular counseling sessions in schools will help the students understand the repercussions of bullying, which can change the school’s environment.
Students with special needs are looked down upon or bullied in Pakistani schools. Counselors not only ensure such behaviors are discouraged in schools but also help disabled kids regain their confidence. Eventually, these counseling programs will help them become an asset to society rather than merely a liability.
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Academic Stress Management
As students move up to higher classes, the difficulty levels in studies increase. They often cannot cope appropriately with academic stress and become stressed. School counselors help these students deal with exams and academic stress and teach them how to manage their studies skillfully.
They guide them in a way that makes them happier than anxious to take up new challenges.
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Personality Development
Counselors help students shape their personalities. They aid them in finding their positive points and building them up further. They also figure out their negatives without being harsh and guide them to eliminate them. Eventually, these students’ personalities turn out to be polished and self-aware.
An extensive and ongoing behavioral support program is needed in each school in Pakistan. It would regulate students’ behaviors while eliminating the unpleasant traits with consistent counseling.
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Fostering A Positive Environment
Counseling services in schools generally foster a positive environment. When students are directed to the right path, they make positive behaviors a part of their personalities.
Consistent reinforcement of what is good and bad develops a sense of responsibility in them, even at a tender age. When students coming out of such schools enter practical lives, they can also bring a positive change in society.
School counselors provide a safe place for students to speak their hearts out. Often, school kids cannot express their emotions even to their parents. Counselors encourage them to speak up and help them sort out their problems quickly.
Final Thoughts
Student mental health is of great significance. Stress and anxiety owing to personal or academic reasons can affect students’ futures. Hence, counseling and mentoring are needed to promote a sense of responsibility among the pupils.
Alongside this, they help students with low confidence build self-esteem and have a positive personality. Counselors also bring out the kids’ consciences, making them morally strong.
If you are looking forward to getting help from the best psychiatrist in Lahore, Islamabad, or any other city of Pakistan at your school, you can easily do so by connecting with Sehatyab. This online platform gives access to everyone to mental health practitioners where they can get their counseling sessions booked.