College is supposed to be a period of development and exploration. However, almost 70% of students experience mental health issues throughout their academic process. Students must balance assignments, exams, and social expectations in addition to striving for high grades. These demands weigh heavily, resulting in many sleepless nights and worrying about failure.
The Hidden Crisis Affecting Student Performance
Academic pressure is a deadly storm of stress and anxiety. Out of 1,823 Japanese undergraduates surveyed, impaired mental health increased the risk of poor academic performance by 62 percent. Also, 41% of them experienced major or moderate depression. According to the American College Health Association, 30 percent of students had their academic performance adversely impacted by stress.
Depression reduces motivation and promotes absenteeism. Anxiety causes a lack of concentration in tests and complicates learning. Social isolation does not give students a chance to interact with their academic community. Worst of all, 75 percent of students have thought of dropping out because of emotional stress over the last six months.
How Wellness Drives Academic Success?
Studies demonstrate that students with primarily A grades had 2.0 more positive health behaviors than those with D and F. Students utilizing mental health services from a behavioral health and wellness academy will attain better GPAs and have increased satisfaction with their academic accomplishments. This confirms that promotion of mental wellness is a direct equivalent of improved outcomes.
The most important habits that can improve performance are:
- Eating breakfast daily
- Eating fruits and vegetables regularly
- Avoiding sugary drinks
- At least 60 minutes of exercising
- Developing effective peer relationships
Three Ways Wellbeing Improves Learning
- Enhanced Cognitive Functioning: Negative emotions and less stress allow students to focus on the task. Their ability to retain information is better, they become more creative, and they find it easier to solve problems.
- Enhanced Decision-Making Abilities: Students who have good social ties are inspired to learn. They make better decisions concerning their courses, career opportunities, and extracurricular activities, relevant to their interests and strengths.
- Increased Emotional Intelligence: The ability to deal with emotions can also assist students in dealing with issues in their personal and professional lives. This is an important skill that is vital to long-term success after graduation.
How does a behavioral health and wellness academy help you?
Enter the revolutionary force of special training programs. Through a Behavioral Health and Wellness Academy, future professionals get the tools necessary to deal with this crisis directly. These programs provide a holistic theoretical education on addiction, prevention, intervention, and recovery approaches.
The market of trained professionals is booming. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of jobs in substance abuse and mental health counseling will increase by 22 percent over the next 10 years (2021-2031). This generates approximately 80,000 new jobs. This need was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with isolation and financial instability compelling many people into substance abuse.
In 2019, close to 20 million people aged 12 years and above had problems with substance use disorder. The numbers continue rising. Mental disorders affect approximately 970 million people in the world. This is a worldwide crisis that needs to be addressed with urgency and expertise.
Comprehensive Training Pathways
Peer coach training produces students capable of supporting their fellow schoolmates. These programs impart the necessary skills such as empathetic listening, crisis recognition, and proper referrals. Peer coaches are trained professionals who offer first-time assistance to students experiencing emotional difficulties.
Substance abuse counselor training equips professionals with the ability to assess the health of patients, prescribe treatments, and assist with the development of recovery skills. Counselors engage with families in order to enhance their understanding and promote healthy relationships. They also do community outreach based on job placement services, support groups, and schools.
SAC certification and mental health counselor certifications authenticate proficiency and various career growth opportunities. These qualifications show professionalism and dedication to quality.
Peer coach academies are specifically designed to combat the loneliness epidemic among Generation Z. This opportunity would assist the students in forming friendships and getting involved. Students succeed at school when they relate to the campus and make social ties.
How to build essential skills through behavioral health education?
Professional training addresses essential issues that change practice. Behavioral health education programs involve self-care, awareness of emotional distress signs and management, and awareness of serious mental illness management. Students get to know how to communicate empathetically and how to build accepting environments.
Suicide prevention training provides training on validation of emotions, providing hope, and proper referrals. The knowledge of the on-campus and off-campus services results in comprehensive support.
The appreciation of limits is important. Almost half of the coaches said they referred clients to mental health professionals in the last year. This 19% increase in mental health referrals indicates the growing understanding of the need to seek special assistance.
Conclusion
Students need support systems that are attentive to their challenges and offer proper interventions. Laitinen Academy is your reliable partner on the journey to a professional career in the field of behavioral health. Their distance learning programs also cover LEARN (Lived Experience And Resource Network), which offers Peer Recovery Coach (PRC) Certification, Addiction Counseling Certification, Substance Abuse Counselor Certification, and Professional Recovery Coaching Certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does it take to become a certified substance abuse counselor?
The majority of the programs will need 2-4 years of education, supervised clinical hours, and passing licensing exams. Online programs are flexible in carrying out requirements at the workplace.
2. What’s the difference between peer coaching and professional counseling?
Peer coaches offer encouragement, contact, and fundamental resources to other students. Professional counselors possess advanced degrees, must be licensed by the state, and can diagnose and treat mental illness.
3. Can I work while completing behavioral health training?
Yes. Students attain certification by taking online programs and working with flexible schedules so that they can juggle education, employment, and personal obligations.
4. Do behavioral health certifications transfer between states?
IC&RC certifications are accepted by many states on a reciprocity basis. Never assume that credentials can be transferred across state lines, unless you have determined that certain states have such licensing requirements.