Article on Student pressure and how to release it
Recently, several students at a university in Guangdong province committed suicide in succession. This again draws people’s attention to a special group of people---university students. Because of the high suicide rate among university students, they have become members of a highly suicide-prone group, which is composed of peasants, bankrupts, laid-off workers and superstars. As a result, the psychological condition of university students has inevitably become a hot social issue.
Xu Guobin, expert of the Psychology Consultation Committee of Guangdong Higher Education as well as CPC Deputy Secretary of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), accepted our interview to talk about the tragedies. He believes the reasons for the suicides have a lot to do with the fact that those university students got to deal with too many complicated things during their studies. They suffered from a great deal of pressure concerning employment, relationships, emotional problems, etc., which led some of them to psychological collapse.
Xu indicated that the primary factor responsible for university students' psychological problems results from pressures like employment, economy, studies, etc. Poor relationships rank second and emotional problems dropped from the # 1 spot to the current # 3. Psychological problems are hard to discover but easy to accumulate. Therefore, tragedies, which could have been prevented, occur.
There are always more solutions than problems
Through interviews, our journalists found that all fellow students felt sad about the tragedies but some considered those students who committed suicide to be too irrational and insensitive. They thought only the weak would see death as a solution while there are better ways to work things out. It was generally acknowledged among students that if the suicidal students could have released the pressure in time, they would not have killed themselves. The establishment of a Psychological Room at the university in question failed to solve the problem effectively. Therefore, students are looking forward to better ways of pressure release.
On March 6, Xu Guobin, Zhong Luoqun, teacher of the Students' Department, and representatives from every faculty held a symposium about students' psychological problems at GDUFS. Student representatives agreed that there were no major fluctuations in the students' psychology. The main pressure comes from the CET-4 and CET-6 exams, from problems concerning choosing majors and moving back to the north campus.
With regard to the problems arising from students' studies and emotional life, Xu showed his concern and extended his encouragement. Poverty is not a thing to feel guilty about and wealth does not solve everything. Life is full of difficulties. Therefore, we should always look at the bright side and take difficulties and sufferings as a kind of practice. If we have strong will and determination, we can be successful in life.
Xu emphasized that psychological health, which relates closely to a student’s political ideology and morality, is an important part of higher education. In order to ensure that students develop mentally, physically and emotionally, the school must provide a sound atmosphere for study and a good living environment. Besides, students should care about one another and give a helping hand to those in need.
Zhong Luoqun pointed out that GDUFS is well equipped for this matter. There is a psychological emergency team in every department, and a psychological commissioner in every class. Even the instructor is trained to deal with psychological problems. “In the course of life, we will come across defeat and frustration, which are inevitable. However, the very same factors may also lead to enhanced wisdom," said Zhong. “Always believe that there is a solution, and we will become more mature in the process of solving the problem."
Li Xiaoli of the Psychology Consultation Room and instructor at the School of International Trade and Economics told us the following ways of releasing pressure:
1. Exercise, for example: jogging, riding a bicycle, dancing, etc.
2. Communicate more with parents, friends and teachers.
3. Solve your problems actively, instead of trying to avoid them.
4. Get help from the Psychology Consultation Room.
Releasing pressure is important
Every one of us should have a correct understanding of ourselves, our society, the problems we face, the difficulties we encounter, even life and death.
I end this report with the comment somebody made about these tragedies on the Internet: “I'm sorry to hear that! I hope everyone knows your life does not only belong to you, but also to your family and your friends, and to everyone who shows loving care for you!"
by wang xiao hua
adapted from
http://english.gdufs.edu.cn/Article_Show.asp?ArticleID=847
Commentary
During growing up and maturing, there are always problems and expectations teenagers are going to face, these includes emotional problems, high expectation in academic and sporting. These expectations often cause too much pressure within the teenager. Some cope well with them and use them as stepping stones to success, but some are unable to manage them, and they tend to escape these problems through various means, and the most fatal one is by suicide.
As can be seen from this article, several student in Guang Dong university was unable to manage their stress and turned to suicide for a relieve. This cases not only happen in China, it happens in everywhere around the world. As i have heard from my mathematics teacher, an ACS boy just committed suicide recently because he was unable to withstand the various stress exerting on him from his peers, teachers and parents. Indeed, this is very sad for a teenager with bright future to die at such a young age.
As a student myself, i can also feel this stress coming from all around me. From my buddies, from my classmates, from my teachers, parents and even myself. Sometimes, i work very hard to achieve something but i failed in doing so, it makes me really pessimistic. But i think we should look at the bright side of life and think more optimistically. There is always tomorrow, although we might fail now, there are always other means and other chances where we can get what we want.
When i visited my friend's house last holiday, i saw loads and loads of assessment on his table, he is having his O'levels this year and i can see how dilligent he became since the previous time i saw him. At a corner, he revealed to me that he was forced by his parents to do so. His parents had high expectation of him. It was not wrong for his parents, but they are overdoing it. I can emphatise with my friend on his situation and I wish that all the parents could spare a thought for their children too. But most importantly, we have to change our pessimistic mindset and look at the bright side of life.
