If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of our physical and mental well-being. Long work hours, screen time, and lack of exercise aren’t doing wonders to the human body.
Sadly, children have a similar environment at home with home-based learning and lockdown restrictions.
But Singaporeans want to change this going forward and taking active steps towards maintaining our physical and mental health during the lockdown is key. Students though, still find it difficult to cope with their own and need intervention from time to time.
Focusing on health, the Mayor of South East District, Mohd Fahmi bin Aliman recently led 50 participants, beneficiaries and staff in a GetActive dance and short workout held in August this year. This was part of the virtual fitness campaign 3M Moves @ South East 2021, to encourage physical activity during the lockdown.
Calling it “exercise for good,” the ninth edition of the annual initiative aimed to raise over 7,000 exercise hours in exchange for $102,000 worth of 3M household products for 3,000 underprivileged students.
But what about peace of mind?
With mental health during lockdown in focus, theAsianparent had a chance to speak with Mayor Fahmi to know his thoughts on the stress students currently face in Singapore and what more can be done when it comes to removing the stigma around it.
Here is an the excerpt from the interview.
Students Face Stress And Temptation From More Sources Now
Image courtesy: iStock
TAP: Given the recent unfortunate events, how has mental health of students been impacted?
Mayor Fahmi: A newspaper in 2019 reported more teenagers from top schools seeking help at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Singapore.
IMH shared that “stress-related, anxiety and depressive disorders are common conditions seen at its guidance clinics which treat children aged six to 18.”
At South East, we have a Community Mental Wellness Grant to support partners in the South East district, to provide talk, workshops, forums or other initiatives that promote mental wellness.
A recent observation has gleaned a focus on cyber-wellness topics and this could be a proxy on what the schools are centering on.
With easy access to digital means, students face stress and temptations from more sources than before, especially from online. Both in terms of the amount of time spent online and the information/comments they come across.
Students Need To Learn To Identify Stress Sources
TAP: Why do you think students are so stressed and how do you propose to help them overcome it?
Mayor Fahmi: Stress in definition, is a normal reaction that happens to everyone. The design of the human body is such that it experiences stress and reacts to it.
Schools have been placing more focus on the socio-emotional development of students, equipping them with ways to displace nervous energy.
Parents, teachers and community players have been provided with resources to help the students manage stress and watch out for early signs of stress.
Children noting on parents’ efforts and dedication toward their learning may not want to disappoint their families and teachers. And this may lead to much cooped up emotions and stress within them.
Adding on with other multiple sources of stress such as friends, social media and more, students will need to learn to identify their stress sources and figure ways to work on them and to overcome them. The process takes time and patience and support from their own network.
Need For More Open And Safe Conversations On Stress And Mental Health During Lockdown
Image Source: Pexels
TAP: What can parents and teachers/schools do to help children feel calm and relaxed?
Mayor Fahmi: There is high stigma associated with stress and mental health. It will be good if there could be more open and safe conversations on stress, mental well-being. And also how to mutually support one another if signs are noticed.
Important for family/parents, to work alongside the teachers to help their children find ways to overcome stress. Each child is different, we will need to find out what works for each child.
TAP: How can Singapore as a society work towards creating a more empathetic environment for the youth?
Mayor Fahmi: Values in action (in schools) are in place to support students’ development as socially responsible citizens; inculcating good values such as empathy is a pertinent part of it.
Us, the adults and the community at large, can definitely be the role models. Especially to show our youth the way to think of others and care for others.
At South East CDC, we have youth programmes such as Racial Harmony Youth Ambassador (RHYA) and My First Break (MFB). These programmes help to gain skillset and learning beyond the school curriculum.
It provides opportunities for them to gain more macro perspectives and step up to causes they believe in and feel for.
This enables the youth to take on more active stances for what come through their environment and circumstances.
Advice For Parents On Ensuring Positive Mental Health During Lockdown
Image Source: Pexels
TAP: HBL has also been a cause for concern for parents. What is your advice to them?
Mayor Fahmi: The pandemic has brought on quick changes to the global environment, impacting on the way we live and work.
It is apt that we are consistently reviewing our educational and employment system, infrastructure and arrangements to adapt and keep up with the changes.
A good balance is always what we should achieve. Be it students balancing academic pursuit with their outside school activities/ interests or parents balancing work commitments and caregiving duties.
We just have to be certain that our well being is of utmost importance. With great health, everything is possible.
HBL is challenging for both child and parent. Both working parents and those who are stay-home parents. But it can also be an opportunity for parents to build closer bonds with their child, observing how they learn and interact with their friends.
However, parents also need to practice self-care, work with their family members/ spouse if they need time out etc.
Lead/featured image courtesy: Facebook/ Fahmi Aliman
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