Students’ physical wellbeing has an impactful link with their ability to learn. Teachers can assist students by discussing potential health barriers through conversations and check-ins.
If your student is suffering from any medical symptoms, such as a rash, they should visit their school’s health center immediately to assess what’s going on and seek appropriate treatments. Usually this will help the best way to diagnose what they have and recommend treatments accordingly.
Emotional Wellbeing
No doubt about it: the mental health of students has an immense effect on their academic performance. Half of all lifetime mental disorders first surface between mid-adolescence and mid-20s – making it essential that when help is required students receive it.
Emotional wellbeing refers to our capacity for managing our thoughts and emotions in an effective manner, including being able to effectively express them. Emotional well-being involves resilience to stress, having a sense of purpose, positive outlook and leading a balanced lifestyle.
Taken together, physical and emotional health are equally essential for living an enjoyable and thriving life. However, for students living away from home it may be challenging to stay on top of their emotions, especially in cases such as homesickness or depression that do not show physical symptoms.
As part of your efforts to help your student maintain optimal emotional well-being, it’s advisable to discuss the value of maintaining healthy relationships and social connections. Inspire them to seek assistance when feeling down; remind them that college health centers are always there for support; school websites should include details regarding these services such as phone numbers for the nurse-on-call service as well as local facilities where emergency care may be obtained.
Physical Wellbeing
No matter who you are or the status of your studies, maintaining optimal physical wellbeing is paramount for success. Our health is directly tied to lifestyle choices such as sleep, diet, exercise and hygiene practices which either contribute to or detract from optimal functioning – students experiencing pain, discomfort or fatigue often struggle to focus and keep up with their studies while those unable to keep active can find it more challenging than expected to maintain the pace required to be successful students.
Six out of ten students want to eat healthier, sleep more, and become stronger, while four in 10 want to spend more time outdoors, practice mindfulness, and eat at regular meal times. Furthermore, a quarter of respondents identified dining hall food options, disordered eating resources, and drug and alcohol dependency services as areas that need improvement.
Colleges are becoming more aware of the interrelation between physical and mental wellbeing, and wellness-themed initiatives and facilities. Boston University (BU)’s Sargent Nutrition provides evidence-based nutrition services and counseling to promote a healthy diet and body, while its Ryan Center provides physical rehabilitation and sports medicine services for various injuries or illnesses. Furthermore, students have found working outdoors increases mental wellbeing by stimulating endorphin production that boosts mood; campus recreation departments have taken steps such as creating walking and biking paths so students can benefit from nature on campus.
Nutrition
Students often struggle to maintain healthy eating habits. While fast-food and unhealthy snacks may tempt young adults to indulge, such foods deprive students of essential nutrients leading to both poor mental and physical health.
Nutrition plays an essential role in keeping students focused in class and on assignments, so student meal plans must provide ample nutritional options. Reducing meat consumption on campus allows students to select healthier food items like plant-based proteins such as beans and legumes and high fiber whole grains; in addition to brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids from fish, probiotics from yogurt or kimchi as well as B vitamins found in bananas or other fruits and vegetables.
Many college students lack affordable and comprehensive health coverage, leaving them vulnerable to expensive medical bills. Luckily, many colleges require students either purchase a student health plan or verify they already have coverage somewhere else.
Students’ health depends on a wide variety of factors, including sleep patterns, exercise and nutrition. College students should prioritize their wellbeing and attend to both physical and emotional needs, prioritizing physical wellness over emotional distress. When feeling unwell at school they should have access to health centers which offer support services as well as patient portals where appointments can be scheduled at these health centers.