OXFORD, England, May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Depression among
affluent teens is triple the US national average, so when going to
school seems an impossible hurdle, or is exacerbating episodes of
anxiety, homeschooling with a private tutor can provide the
supportive environments students need to get back on track,
explains Tutors International, a world-leading provider of
residential private tutoring.
One of the main issues students face at school is the
overwhelming pressure for academic achievement and social
conformity. These can lead to fear and worry, which, in turn, often
lead to avoidance behaviours, where students may miss classes or
turn down extracurricular activities, further isolating them from
their peers and exacerbating their anxiety or depression.
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) runs from 13 to 19 May 2024.
How are schools tackling student mental health?
In the UK and US, particularly, student mental health is given
far more attention than a generation ago.
In both the US and the UK, mental health staff are being
appointed in schools to lead comprehensive well-being programs,
focused on fostering good mental health, identifying and supporting
students in need, and collaborating with local mental health
services.
But sometimes this isn't enough.
Anxiety among affluent children is up to 30% higher than
teens of other socioeconomic backgrounds, and 20% are diagnosed
with clinically significant depression, 3x the US national
average. Source
Depression and anxiety can affect all areas of a child's life,
including sleep, diet, mental and physical health, and self-esteem.
Students may be disengaged, struggle to form or maintain
relationships with peers and teachers, and lose interest in future
planning or activities they previously enjoyed. Importantly,
anxiety and depression can impair working memory, making it
difficult for students to retain new information or recall
previously learned material.
Homeschooling relieves the pressure on students
By providing a safe, controlled environment tailored to a
student's emotional and academic needs, homeschooling for a
period of time can set a child back on a happier path. The
personalised attention from a homeschool tutor allows for a gentler
pace of learning and in ways that reduce stress and anxiety about
academic performance.
If peer pressure or friendship groups are the cause of the
students' problems, removing the social pressures that comes with
school can help students focus on learning without the fear of
judgement or bullying.
Tutors International Education Manager, Nathaniel Hannan, who was a private tutor with
Tutors International for many years, has plenty of experience with
teenage mental health issues:
"Several of my students have grappled with mental health
challenges, notably depression and anxiety. Homeschooling offers a
nurturing environment that bolsters their mental well-being, free
from the disruptive influences of bullying and peer issues found in
schools. Homeschooling presents the opportunity to de-emphasize
social media use and status-seeking that compounds the factors that
lead to depression and anxiety problems."
Fostering positive social experiences
It's crucial for homeschooled students to still have
opportunities for social interaction to develop and maintain social
skills. Engaging in extracurricular activities, community programs,
or homeschooling groups can provide these essential social
experiences in a more controlled and supportive setting.
CEO and Founder of Tutors International, Adam Caller:
"If you think about your own social interactions from school
time for yourselves, well you may have one or two friends now that
you've met at school. Those long-term friends, those strong social
interactions in your life probably came from things that you chose
to do for yourself: a sport, or musical interest, or a subject you
chose at university."
"And so when we homeschool children, where we take them out
of school, what we're doing is taking them away from all of the
negatives and giving them access to much more of those positive
social interactions."
Educators and schools must be prepared to identify and address
anxiety and depression among students, and provide the appropriate
support. Early intervention can prevent the long-term consequences
of untreated mental health issues, highlighting the importance of
awareness and proactive measures in both traditional and homeschool
settings.
About Tutors International
Tutors International provides an unparalleled private tutoring
service that matches the right private home tutor with the right
child for the student to reach their personal potential and
academic excellence fully. Delivering an international private
tuition service for children of all ages at different points in
their educational journeys, Tutors International is founded on a
commitment to finding the perfect tutor to realise each student's
specific goals and aspirations. Tutors are available for full-time
residential positions, after-school assistance, and
home-schooling.
Founded in 1999 by Adam Caller,
Tutors International is a private company based in Oxford, a city renowned for academic
excellence. Our select clientele receives a personally tailored
service, with discretion and confidentiality guaranteed.
Media Enquiries
Web: www.tutors-international.com
Email: marketing@tutors-international.com
Phone: +44 (0) 1865 435 135
Tutors International
Prama House
267 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 7HT
England
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