TITLE:
Mental Health and Education: Assessment of Factors Affecting High School Students
AUTHORS:
Mosar Correa Rodrigues, Paulo Henrique Mascarenhas Moura, Débora Maria Marchesine de Almeida, Ana Cerilza Santana Mélo, Rosângela Correa Rodrigues
KEYWORDS:
Mental Health, Health Education, Adolescent Health, Family Relations, Adolescence
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.3,
March
12,
2025
ABSTRACT: Adolescence is a period of intense physical, psychological, and social changes, during which young individuals become more vulnerable to family issues, socioeconomic factors, and social interactions. Influences such as friendships, technology use, substance use, media impact, gender norms, bullying, and sexual violence significantly affect mental health. In Brazil, alarming data indicate that many adolescents face mental disorders, increasing the risks of self-harm, depression, and suicide. This study aimed to evaluate the mental health aspects of high school students at School Assis Chateaubriand in Feira de Santana, Bahia. A questionnaire with 19 questions, based on the National School Health Survey (PENSE), was administered to address factors impacting mental health, including sociodemographic data, individual and social aspects, and drug experimentation. Results revealed that 58% of students reported alcohol consumption, 43% felt lonely in the past 12 months, and 61% did not feel accepted in their school environment. Among those who reported feeling lonely, 10.6% experienced this feeling constantly. The main motivations for drug use included curiosity, peer influence, escaping family problems, and socializing. These issues are interconnected with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and social dynamics that directly impact young people’s mental health. Therefore, it is essential for mental health to be a priority in basic education curricula, and for health education initiatives to be promoted by universities. Schools should serve as spaces for support and information, and university extension activities are vital for fostering dialogue about mental health among students.