Providing mental health care for students, teachers is vital

Providing mental health care for students, teachers is vital

By Ghadeer Ghloum

KUWAIT: Providing mental health care for both students and teachers is important for the students’ academic progression and the teachers’ ability to do their jobs, teachers say. “There is clear difference in academic success for students in classes that are taught by fully present teachers and others that are taught by distracted teachers,” said Samia Ibrahim, Principal of an American school in Kuwait.

“Teachers’ mental stability highly affects students’ absorption of the material that is being taught, because despite their young age, students can sense their teacher’s consideration of the material and the quality of teaching. This consequently affects students’ commitment to their studies as the majority mirror their teacher’s spirit in class,” she said.

Regardless of the material’s importance, teachers’ commitment and attentiveness during class determines a major part of students’ interest in learning. Although teachers’ performance plays a major role in academic success, students also need to have enough awareness and willingness for exceling at school. A healthy mind encourages such enthusiasm.

Ghadeer Ghafour, a high school English teacher, also confirms the importance of offering mental health support for teachers at school. “It helps teachers seek the right method of teaching in order to help students perform better. Most