Troubled: Mental health challenges of our school children

June 26, 2024

DHAKA – When Ms Matin saw Mamun after a decade since his kindergarten years, she was appalled. The child she knew was happy and energetic: what became of him in his adolescent years? Mamun looked frail, lacked energy, and had a distant and troubled expression on his face. His father recounted how Mamun had withdrawn from his friends and social activities, had difficulty concentrating on studies, and suffered bouts of headaches and other ailments that did not respond well to treatment. His friends seemed to have abandoned him and his teachers left him alone, whispering among themselves about this strange and alien being. Here was an adolescent child drifting away, far from friendly shores, alone and helpless.

Mamun’s mental health situation is not uncommon and probably reaching contagion proportions in schools worldwide. In Bangladesh, the subject is taboo. Lack of understanding, fear, and social stigma often prevent school children and their families from seeking timely help. This exacerbates the child’s difficulties and hinders her/his overall well-being. Unfortunately, a child like Mamun is often told, “get over it” or “it’s all in your head.” The problem gets quickly swept under the rug with its attendant burdens and severe consequences.

Troubled school children suffer mental stresses for a variety of reasons: The competitive education system, family and societal expectations, emphasis on academic success over learning, authoritarian teachers, and insensitive peers who make life miserable. Many children find themselves struggling with high academic standards without guidance or support, abused by the acerbic tongue of some teachers, and being bullied day in day out by peers. It’s a rough world for the