By Victoria Ochenehi

Ibn-I-Sina, popularly known in the West as Avicenna, carried out an experiment where he put two lambs in separate cages. These lambs were of the same age and weight and fed with the same food. All conditions were equal. However, at the same time, there was a wolf in the third cage. Only one lamb could see the wolf but not the other lamb. Months later, the lamb who saw the wolf was cranky, restless, and poorly developed. Although the wolf did nothing to the lamb next to it, the fear and stress that lamb lived in killed it prematurely. While the other lamb that did not see the wolf was peaceful and developed well with a healthy weight gain. In this experiment, Ibn-I-Sina proved the influence of emotional problems such as anxiety on physical wellness and its positive and negative effects on health. Nothing may harm the academics of pharmacy students more than unnecessary anxiety and stress; thus, it is pertinent to ensure adequate mental health.

What is Mental Health?

The term mental health refers to the maintenance of successful mental activity. It is an aspect of health that includes maintaining productive daily activities and fulfilling relationships with others. Mental health also includes maintaining the abilities to adapt to change. The concept of mental health has often been misconstrued. It is not limited to mental illnesses but involves our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

Common Mental Health Problems Among Students

Some of the mental health problems common among students include depression, suicide, anxiety, attention disorders, among others. The symptoms of these disorders vary widely and may affect mood, thinking, and the ability to interact with others. Although these problems are diverse, there are various ways to effectively manage them and ensure an adequate mental well-being.

Ways to Look After Your Mental Health As a Student

Exercise

One of the ways to improve your mental well-being is to exercise. Light exercise a day for at least 20 minutes helps with low moods. This can involve walking briskly to and from your hostels/off-campus apartments to the faculty. It is clinically proven that the endorphins that are released during exercise help you feel happy, sleep better, and concentrate more.

Talk therapy

If you’re feeling overwhelmed in pharmacy school, talk about it. There’s a popular saying that a problem shared is a problem halved. Having someone to talk to about the pressures that come with your academics is important. Talk to someone, be it your friend, family member, coursemate, or tutor. Do not keep your feelings to yourself, and these people will always find ways to help you feel better about your situation. If you are uncomfortable talking to someone you know, you can talk to us at Pharmental Initiative via Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn as we are always ready to listen and help you.

Get Quality Sleep

It is difficult to sleep perfectly well in pharmacy school, but having a sort of sleeping pattern will go a long way to help you. Scientists have found that having a sleeping pattern is more beneficial than sleeping for long hours. Having a sleeping pattern means you should go to bed and wake at similar periods daily.

Set Small Goals

It is common to set unrealistic and difficult goals in the school of pharmacy. Do not try and push beyond your limits and do not get ahead of yourself while setting academic goals. Make your to-do list achievable and realistic. Manage your time efficiently and take one step at a time consistently. Writing down your goals is necessary as this helps you to feel fulfilled at the end of each day.

Seek Professional Help

Although you do not need to get to crisis point before you talk to professionals, there are severe cases that might not be resolved via the ways outlined above. It is important to seek professional help when need be. You can reach out to the Pharmental Initiative which is focused on improving the mental health of pharmacy students in Nigeria and assisting those with emotional problems get desired help. We are available on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn and are always willing to walk with you through your journey of achieving optimal mental well-being.