IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH TOWARDS STUDY HABIT ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Education is vital for an individual and society as a whole and the secondary school phase is critical for the development of the primary and secondary students. It is during this time that pupils acquire the knowledge and skill sets that form the foundation of their professional futures as well as their character development. In India however secondary school faces a multitude of challenges that depend on their educational experience. The challenges are the products of conflicting social and cultural expectations combined with the objective of becoming a high achievement for many people the ability to achieve this goal is made even more difficult because of mental health challenges which are often hidden and ignored. The stress anxiety and depression that have reached an alarming proportion among the adolescents and often become achievements’ drainers because of the lack of attention willingness to put in the effort and the ability to meet the increasing attainment that come with achievement. The pressure that these students experience is often a result of the rigid educational system accompanied with the expectations and responsibilities associated with being a female as was described in detail of the immediate context. Fear of expectations particularly during exams coupled with the fear of failure, anxiety and not achieving disorganization and overload controllable mental processes means that panic is the controlling factor. Even though depression might go unnoticed it takes away a student’s motivation mental strength and ability to focus. At the same time the ability to develop proper study skills becomes a major and perhaps compensating factor influencing academic achievements. The mental health and academic habits are intertwined and mutually reinforcing: Mental health problems like stress and anxiety undermine concentration and executive functioning making the formation of a disciplined studying habit difficult. On the other hand, poor study behaviors can increase psychological distress thus developing a vicious cycle that hinders academic achievement and general well-being. The mental health and the development of healthy study habits both at the same time also additional complexities are added by the cultural and social context. Not only these mental processes play a role in the preliminary encoding of new information, but also its retention and the subsequent transfer of the same data in the context of instruction. The current research also aims at defining and outlining practical solutions in learning institutions policymakers and community leaders to promote a setting that promotes teenage mental health.