Psychologist’s comment: How to overcome challenges in student life?

Problems and difficulties often force students to "compete" not only with academic tasks but also with personal challenges. They face not only the challenges of studying but also the complexities of finding their identity, integrating socially, and taking on new responsibilities in life. These difficulties can significantly affect both their mental well-being and academic progress.

How can students overcome these challenges, and what is the significance of psychological support in this process? Narine Khachatryan, Head of the Chair of Personality Psychology at YSU Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology, commented on the matter. 

- During their studies, students face a number of academic and non-academic challenges that affect their progress and engagement in the educational process. What specific challenges are we referring to? 

- Problems can be varied. While university years are often seen as an interesting and attractive time for professional development, acquiring new knowledge, expanding one’s circle of relationships, and forming new perspectives on life, they also present significant challenges. These challenges range from attaining personal maturity and feeling the need to develop new skills, adapting socially, managing increased responsibilities, and addressing various other concerns. I can talk about these issues through the findings of our research, which focused on the post-war and post-Covid period of 2022-2023. During this study, we categorized the difficulties students face, many of which are still prevalent today. 

One major category of challenges is intrapersonal issues. These primarily involve the negative emotions and experiences characteristic of this stage of life. In the phase of "emerging maturity" or early adolescence, individuals transition into a new stage of development, with the search for identity becoming central. This may or may not be a conscious realization. As a result, this period is both one of opportunity and experimentation, and one marked by instability in self-esteem, emotional turmoil, and an imbalance between resources and potential. Moreover, from a mental health perspective, this age is considered particularly vulnerable.

Another significant category of challenges is related to educational stress, including exams, deadlines, difficulties in mastering material, and the "lack of general competencies"—a gap in the skills needed to meet current demands, such as research capabilities, foreign language proficiency, and technical expertise. Additionally, as we anticipated, many challenges stem from the non-academic environment. We referred to this as the "stressful reality", which includes the aftermath of war and related emotional struggles, difficulties in the life of an individual (living away from family and adjusting to city life (particularly for students from rural areas), as well as conflicts, illness in the family), and challenges in communication (conflicts, anxiety about being rejected), as well as difficulties in peer relationships (struggles to make friends and navigate romantic relationships). Communication with peers plays a crucial role for young people in their search for identity.

For young people, it is often hard to distinguish problems. In this context, we can say that today young people are psychologically "overloaded". 

- How do non-academic issues, such as family problems or social relationships, impact a student's overall well-being?

Imagine a young student entering a new environment where they must adapt to new relationships and demands. At this stage, in addition to the challenges of studying (which we can call educational stress), other factors also come to the forefront: there’s already competition, concerns about the future (with students expressing worries about not securing a good job), a desire to work while studying, and the need to assert themselves. If, alongside all of this, additional challenges such as financial struggles, interpersonal issues, or traumatic experiences arise, they naturally affect the student's psychological state, which can, in turn, impact their motivation and progress. Essentially, at this stage, the student is not only learning and developing, but they are also asserting their identity (in a positive sense, not the negative one often associated with this term), which can make them "vulnerable".

We often associate everything with childhood, but this stage of life is also significant for shaping and forming one’s identity.

- What should a student do when facing challenges, or what principles should guide them in overcoming such situations?

- It’s crucial for students to use various forms of self-care that work best for them. The concept of "self-care" isn’t often emphasized in daily life, but practices like physical activity, meditative or breathing exercises, maintaining a healthy sleep routine, following a healthy diet, and balancing rest and workload are essential for stability. These habits contribute to mental hygiene, helping to support our nervous system, which is exposed to daily stress. Our nervous system must be equipped to handle these pressures. Although this idea is gaining recognition today, it should become as routine as daily habits like bathing or brushing teeth.

In addition, it's important to have hobbies or activities that bring positive emotions or enhance inner harmony. This is, in essence, another form of self-care. If a young person practices self-care at this age, it will become a life skill they will certainly need in the future.

- When a student feels overwhelmed by intense emotions and struggles to manage the situation, what steps should they take to receive the necessary psychological support? How important is professional help?

- If a young person notices that their emotions are so overwhelming that they can’t handle them on their own, they should definitely seek help. This could come from their circle of supporting people, such as friends or family. However, sometimes that alone isn’t enough. In such cases, seeking professional psychological support is crucial. I’m glad that the stereotype around seeking help from a psychologist has been broken in our times. There’s still a misconception in our society that seeking psychological help means "weakness" or "inability." This is a myth. Everyone can be vulnerable at some point in their lives, and that’s completely natural. We shouldn’t feel ashamed of it. Instead, we should acknowledge and understand our vulnerabilities, and not be afraid to address them. When we confront our vulnerabilities, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our personal history, which positively impacts our growth. I truly hope that seeking help from a psychologist is no longer seen as a sign of weakness or fragility. There are many forms of psychological support available, but it’s worth noting that seeking professional help often comes with financial costs. That’s why many international universities offer psychological support centers or services for students.

- How important do you consider the role of psychological support in universities? 

- Psychological support is crucial at this stage of life, and if universities pay attention to this issue, it can have a positive effect on students' motivation and academic performance. However, this doesn’t mean that the university should tackle all these issues with equal importance and intensity, but it can be sensitive to them. Being sensitive and attentive means adopting a comprehensive approach. Let me explain: first and foremost, it’s essential for universities to offer services that support psychological well-being. One such service is the Psychological Support Learning Laboratory at YSU Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology, which provides free psychological services to students. Our master's students work there as psychologist-consultants within the framework of their professional practice under professional supervision. The work being done there is excellent, and students from all YSU faculties can use this service free of charge.

The overall communication culture also plays a vital role, as supportive relationships are key to mental well-being. Lecturers play a significant role here, as they act as both mentors and role models for students. Their communication style can serve as a motivating and supportive influence on young people. Additionally, the conversation about mental health and psychological well-being can be enhanced with specially developed programs, such as psychoeducational meetings, articles, and maybe even courses for lecturers on topics like stress management, resilience, emotional burnout, and supportive communication skills. It’s important to adopt a general “policy” that is sensitive to mental health and well-being, and this can be implemented in various ways. Studies have shown that an atmosphere of fear, stereotypical thinking, barriers to self-expression, and feelings of injustice negatively impact mental health.