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"Are you stressed?"

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A Singaporean teenager would have encountered this question throughout their teenage life but how would they respond? Do they know what it means to be or feel "stressed"?



Zimbardo, Johnson, Hamilton and McCann (2014) defined stress as the physical and mental response to a stressor; which can be a stressful event or situation. Final YPlus Mental Health. Stress. External sources of stress could include: Personal problemsWork problemsRelationship difficultiesPressure of studiesHealth problemsFinancial crisisUnemploymentLosses, e.g. bereavementUnexpected newsDaily hassles Internal sources of stress could include the following: Thinking stylesNegativity: "I'm useless, a loser, a failure.

Stress

" Stress Management. While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control.

Stress Management

Why is it so important to manage stress? If you’re living with high levels of stress, you’re putting your entire well-being at risk. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life. It may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress. Effective stress management helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive. School transitions can be a stressful and intimidating struggle for many students and parents. SINGAPORE: As the first school term of 2018 draws to a close, students heave a sigh of relief as the one-week school holiday gives many a temporary respite before the next term starts.

School transitions can be a stressful and intimidating struggle for many students and parents

In recent years, there have been reports on youths in Singapore facing increased stress and anxiety in their lives. This is a concern we must actively tackle. It starts with recognising a systemic source of apprehension. The period of school transitions, when a young person progresses from pre-school to primary school, secondary school to post-secondary education institutes can be particularly challenging.

There is no “standard” experience - some youths seem excited about starting a new chapter in their schooling life, while others are anxious and take a longer time to adjust. For the average seven-year-old, starting primary school can be intimidating. A hyper-competitive culture is breeding severe test anxiety among many students. SINGAPORE: Xiao Jia*, 12, came to us as she could no longer cope with an intense fear of the upcoming Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

A hyper-competitive culture is breeding severe test anxiety among many students

She had set out to score more than an aggregate of 250 and didn’t want to disappoint her parents. A plan of getting into her choice school, excelling later at the O and A-Levels, getting into her choice university course, and eventually securing a good job all hinged on doing well in this first national exam. Her fears are not uncommon among her peers, albeit of varying degrees. TODAYonline. SINGAPORE — Music teacher Adela Josephine Tandar decided to help her students overcome the stress of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) by encouraging them to pen their own motivational song.

TODAYonline

The approach certainly struck a chord with her band of young musicians in Primary Six at Juying Primary School in Jurong West. The youngsters were determined to give a boost to their schoolmates hit by PSLE jitters, and they emerged as one of the finalists for last year’s Singapore Youth Festival Theme Song Writing Contest, an event organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Mrs Tandar, 32, told TODAY in an interview on Tuesday (July 2) at the school: “The song they wrote titled, Rainbow after the Storm, was about how there is hope after the PSLE whatever results you get... They (student songwriters) were very stressed out by exams so they wanted to use this song to inspire others.” Mrs Tandar was one of 12 finalists for this year’s Outstanding Youth in Education Award, run by the MOE. Helping children cope with stress, Lifestyle News.

An international study reported last year suggests that Singapore students experience higher levels of anxiety than those from many other countries.

Helping children cope with stress, Lifestyle News

The study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) polled 540,000 students from 72 countries and economies. It showed that 66 per cent of students across all OECD countries said they were worried about poor grades in school. Among Singapore students, it was 86 per cent. More teens in Singapore seeking help at IMH for school stress , Education News. SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - More teenagers from top schools are seeking help at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for school-related stress.

More teens in Singapore seeking help at IMH for school stress , Education News

IMH said that stress-related, anxiety and depressive disorders are common conditions seen at its Child Guidance Clinics, which treat children aged six to 18. The clinics saw an average of about 2,400 new cases every year from 2012 to 2017. Since IMH does not track the causes of the disorders, it does not have statistics on cases related to school stress. However, Dr Lim Choon Guan, senior consultant and deputy chief of IMH's department of developmental psychiatry, said: "Over the past few years, I have seen more teenagers in our clinic who are from top schools and report experiencing school-related stress.

" Replying to The New Paper's queries, Dr Lim said this trend does not necessarily mean more youth are feeling stressed about their studies but suggests they are more willing to seek help. This may lead them to have unrealistic expectations. Health Promotion Board launches New Mental Health initiatives to help Youth Bounce Back Stronger from Life's Challenges.