Education

Speaking out on pressure

By Wang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-07 08:09

A group of students of Beijing Wuzi University hold a discussion session with an instructor to chat about academic pressure. Photos provided to China Daily

It was in the summer months of this year that Yin Weichao went through the darkest time of his life. Her application to the Communication University of China was rejected because of a "low" university entrance exam score - one mark below the enrollment point. Frustrated, she was left to enroll with her backup choice, Canvard College Beijing Technology and Business University. Before long though, Yin, 18, lost the motivation to study and was pushing her new-found friends away.

All this changed when her teacher, who noticed the altering mood, connected her with members of the Seven Universities Psychological Alliance, a newly formed student-led organization that works to relieve upset souls.

The event that allowed Yin to vent her frustration was a speech contest organized by the alliance to encourage students to share problems and confusions they encounter in life.

"After the speaking contest, I felt very energetic," she said. "I realized that as long as I make an effort, I will be a winner."

Jiang Shiqi, a member of the Seven Universities Psychological Alliance and chairwomen of a psychological association of Beijing Wuzi University, agrees that the chance to voice inner feeling is important.

"Being able to speak out problems to people who care is one of the best ways to solve psychological problems," she said.

"Students who share similar experiences will feel some relief when they understand they are not the only people with these kind of problems," said the sophomore, majoring in statistics.

The speech contest, which took place on Nov 28, is the first activity for the Seven Universities Psychological Alliance - created to address increasing psychological problems and promote awareness among students.

In all, 13 contestants from the seven universities took part in the contest and were supported by many hundreds more.

The event was a success and a necessity, as psychological problems have become a major concern in student lives.

According to statistics from the Beijing Health Bureau in 2009, more than 100,000 students in Beijing experienced varying levels of depression.

In terms of school dropouts, students affected by psychological illnesses is said to account for 64.4 percent of the total.

Gao Xinping, deputy director of the psychological center at Beijing Wuzi University, explained the reason behind it.

"University students are experiencing unprecedented pressure from both family and society," she said.

Gao added that children without siblings have grown used to their parents making all the life decisions, as well as taking the daily pressures.

As a result, when they leave home for campus life, they are faced with numerous new issues - how to get along with classmates and roommates, how to form close and intimate relationships, as well as how to deal with employment pressure. Gao also found that many students, especially freshmen, have sleeping disorders.

"Participating in activities with the alliance might help them enlarge their social network and teach them how to communicate with others and express problems," she said.

"Students can learn to become open and optimistic if they have more friends who are willing to offer help."

The Seven Universities Psychological Alliance plans to organize more activities to help students become more involved in promoting psychological knowledge.

Next on the calendar - on May 25, an annual date to recognize Chinese students psychological issues - is a cross talk and comic sketch competition to reflect student difficulties and problems in daily life.

China Daily

(China Daily 12/07/2010)