#StudentWellbeing

A practical blend of comfort and clinical care from the University of Utah offers transferable lessons for Thai universities facing rising student distress. The approach combines informal supports, like campus service animals, with after-hours access to professional counselors, demonstrating a humane, scalable path for improving student wellbeing.

As new students arrive, universities across the United States show how easy access to supportive services can ease homesickness and stress. At Utah, students can spend time with Volley, the campus service dog, or drop in during animal-assisted sessions at busy campus hubs. In addition, the MH1 program provides after-hours access to trained counselors, signaling to students that help is available even when regular offices are closed. This layered model reduces barriers to care and normalises help-seeking among young adults.

As new students arrived for the fall term, the University of Utah rolled out a suite of mental-health supports designed to ease stress, loneliness and homesickness — from scheduled visits with a campus service dog to an after‑hours Mental Health First Responders (MH1) programme that connects students to counsellors when regular offices are closed. The initiative is notable not for a single dramatic cure but for layering low‑barrier, familiar interventions with professional care, a model that carries practical lessons for Thai universities grappling with rising student distress and demand for accessible mental health services.

The Illinois Controversy That Could Shape Thailand’s Future

A fierce debate erupts across American classrooms. Should schools routinely ask every child if they feel depressed? Illinois just mandated exactly that—sparking passionate arguments that reach far beyond Chicago suburbs into the heart of how Thai educators approach student wellbeing.

The controversy began when an opinion writer at Meridian Magazine issued a stark warning to parents. Stop asking children about depression, she urged. Her alarm centers on Illinois’ groundbreaking law requiring annual mental health screenings for all public school students from third grade through high school by 2027.

A recent report warns that many students overwork themselves to chase grades and resumes. (This habit can cause anxiety, stress, and burnout.) (KVIA)

Parents and schools should notice signs of anxiety and burnout early. Early detection can prevent long-term mental health problems.

Experts say students often join many activities to build resumes for schools and jobs. Those activities can overload students and harm their wellbeing. (KVIA)

A therapist at a community health network warns that overwork can become obsessive. The therapist says anxiety, stress, and lack of motivation can follow. (KVIA)

In Bangkok’s hospital wards, teenagers tell a common story: sleepless nights cramming formulas, anxiety before exams, and a belief that their worth hinges on grades and university placement. What many families see as normal stress has grown into a mental health challenge that affects a full generation. International studies corroborate a global pattern of student overwork, underscoring the urgency for Thai-specific solutions.

The Hidden Cost of Achievement Culture

Mental health professionals report rising anxiety, depression, and stress-related symptoms among Thai students who appear academically successful. Even while maintaining high GPAs and juggling tutoring, volunteering, and clubs, these youths report chronic fatigue, panic, and thoughts of self-harm. Research on community health patterns points to a phenomenon some call “achievement addiction,” a compulsive chase for accolades that delivers little lasting satisfaction and eventually heightens anxiety. When the drive for perfect transcripts dominates, deep learning and personal growth suffer.

A heated debate in the United States over universal mental health screening in schools raises questions for Thailand. Illinois recently enacted a law requiring annual mental health assessments for public school students from third grade through high school by 2027. The discussion has sparked strong opinions about how best to support student wellbeing, a topic Thai educators are watching closely.

In the United States, critics warn that routine questions about depression might pathologize normal childhood feelings. Supporters argue that early identification helps at‑risk students access help sooner. In Thailand, educators see both potential benefits and cultural challenges in any national screening effort. The World Health Organization has noted rising mental health concerns among Thai youth, particularly in urban areas under academic pressure. Thai families often blend traditional values, Buddhist perspectives, and modern psychology when addressing emotional wellbeing.

In quiet hospital rooms across Bangkok, teenage patients describe the same crushing symptoms: sleepless nights spent memorizing formulas, chest-tightening anxiety before exams, and an overwhelming sense that their worth depends entirely on grades and university admissions. What many Thai families dismiss as normal academic stress has become a mental health epidemic that threatens an entire generation’s wellbeing—and new international research reveals the devastating scope of student overwork that mirrors patterns emerging worldwide.

A major new study of secondary schools in England finds that banning smartphones on school grounds or at break times does not, by itself, produce better grades, healthier sleep or improved mental wellbeing among pupils — a result that shifts the debate from banning devices to reducing total screen time and reshaping how young people use digital technology. Researchers compared student outcomes across schools with different phone rules and found that the single strongest predictor of worse academic and health measures was the amount of time pupils spent on smartphones and social media, rather than whether schools imposed on-site bans. The finding matters for Thai educators and parents because it suggests policy and cultural interventions beyond simple exclusion are needed to protect learning, mental health and social development in a country where young people are highly connected.

A large study of secondary schools in England shows that banning smartphones on school grounds or at break times alone does not automatically boost grades, sleep quality, or mental wellbeing. The findings shift the focus from device bans to reducing total screen time and reshaping how young people use digital technology. Researchers compared outcomes across schools with varying phone rules and found that the strongest predictor of poorer academic and health metrics was the amount of time students spent on smartphones and social media, not whether schools restricted devices. This matters for Thai educators and parents, highlighting the need for policy and cultural approaches beyond exclusion to safeguard learning, mental health, and social development in a highly connected youth culture.

Throughout Bangkok’s bustling university libraries and countless coffee shop study spaces, Thai students unknowingly participate in a global psychological revolution that could transform their academic success, as groundbreaking research published in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Psychology reveals how strategically chosen background music dramatically enhances cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and learning outcomes in ways that fundamentally challenge traditional assumptions about optimal study environments. This revolutionary scientific analysis, representing the most comprehensive real-world examination ever conducted of how different personality types harness music to boost brain function, offers Thai families and educators evidence-based strategies for creating personalized audio environments that work synergistically with individual neurological differences rather than fighting against them.

A new wave of research is reshaping how Thai students study. Groundbreaking findings published in Frontiers in Psychology suggest that strategically chosen background music can boost concentration, emotional regulation, and learning outcomes. The study offers evidence-based approaches for creating personalized audio environments that align with individual brain differences, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all study settings.

Thailand’s daily life is already steeped in music, from market sounds to tuk-tuk radios and university study playlists. This cultural backdrop makes the research especially relevant for Thai families and educators seeking practical ways to support students. National health surveys indicate attention difficulties affect about 8.1 percent of Thai primary school children, underscoring the need for accessible, culturally attuned cognitive enhancement strategies that fit into schools and homes.

Australia continues to cement its status as a global education powerhouse, attracting a growing number of international students who are not only seeking world-class degrees but also life skills, cross-cultural friendships, and a gateway to global careers. New research and updated reports highlight how universities, policymakers, and students themselves are evolving to foster a thriving environment—while navigating challenges in academics, cost of living, mental health, and migration rules (The Economic Times).

A surge in international students has reshaped Australia’s higher education landscape, offering insight for Thai families considering study abroad. Data show that universities, policymakers, and students are adapting to balance academic rigor with cost, well-being, and migration rules, a timely read for families mapping Thai-led study plans.

In 2023, Australia welcomed about 787,000 international students, a 27% year-on-year increase, with growth projected into 2024. The country now hosts one of the world’s highest international student shares per capita, underscoring its appeal for Thai students seeking quality programs and global exposure. Understanding how students adjust to this environment remains crucial.

In a controversial move set to affect students, parents, and educators alike, Missouri has become the latest US state to introduce a sweeping cell phone ban across all public schools. Signed into law by the governor and effective from the upcoming academic year, Senate Bill 68 prohibits students from possessing their phones on campus during the entire school day—including lunch breaks and time between classes—except in emergencies or for medical needs. This new policy, already practiced by some districts, now becomes mandatory statewide, with school authorities tasked to ensure its enforcement and navigate its consequences for the educational ecosystem.

A new statewide rule in Missouri bans students from carrying cell phones on school grounds for the entire day, including lunch and transitions. The policy, signed into law and set to take effect next academic year, requires schools to enforce the prohibition with exceptions only for emergencies or medical needs. While some districts have already limited phone use, the measure now applies to all public schools across the state.

Proponents argue the ban supports focused learning, safer hallways, and fewer distractions in classrooms. Critics worry about emergencies, parental communication, and broader effects on mental health and social development. The issue resonates beyond Missouri, contributing to a global conversation about smartphone use among youths and its impact on attention, performance, and well-being. Thai educators see relevance for Thai schools grappling with similar concerns.

A growing number of child psychologists are urging Thai schools to expand graduation honors beyond academic excellence. As Thailand aims to boost learning outcomes and student wellbeing, experts say current traditions may overlook important achievements and contribute to student stress.

Globally and in Thailand, end-of-year awards often spotlight grades. However, many specialists warn this narrow focus can dampen motivation for the majority who work hard but may not be top of the class. In discussions with major Thai education networks, experts note that recognizing improvements, leadership, cooperation, and community service could nurture a healthier, more inclusive school culture.

Every graduation season, schools across the world celebrate student achievement with a flurry of awards—most of which continue to focus narrowly on academic excellence. But a tide of new research and calls from child psychology experts is putting pressure on education systems to expand their definition of success, warning that the traditional model may be doing students more harm than good (CTV News, CP24). As Thailand seeks to boost learning outcomes and student wellbeing, these insights offer timely lessons for Thai educators, policymakers, and parents.

A recent study in Evolutionary Psychological Science shows that everyday illness-related noises—such as coughing and sniffling—can hinder learning even when they are not overtly distracting. The brain may be hardwired to detect illness signals, pulling attention away from tasks that require memory and problem solving. While the experiment took place with U.S. undergraduates, its implications are clear for Thai classrooms, offices, and study spaces as Thailand strengthens public health awareness and aims for better learning environments.

A recent MIT-led study has ignited a global conversation about the cognitive impact of artificial intelligence (AI) use in education, warning that reliance on tools like ChatGPT could erode students’ ability to engage in deep, critical thinking and retain ownership of their ideas. The research, which has gained notable attention in international and Thai education circles, strikes at the heart of a rapidly growing dilemma—as AI-generated writing becomes easier and more prevalent, could it make us, in effect, intellectually lazier and less capable over time? (NYT)

A sweeping new study of over 3,500 university students has cast procrastination in a new, more troubling light: chronic delays are not just a time management problem, but a significant risk factor for mental and physical health issues. The research, coordinated by a team at Sophiahemmet University in Sweden and published this week in a major medical journal, revealed that habitual procrastinators were more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, upper body pain, and even financial difficulties, compared to their more punctual peers. These findings underscore the complex ways that psychological habits can reverberate through every aspect of health, echoing concerns that apply as much to Thai society as anywhere else in the world.

A large international study of more than 3,500 university students shows a clear link between chronic procrastination and a range of mental and physical health issues. Although conducted in Sweden, the findings resonate with Thai readers as mental health concerns rise among students and workers.

In Thailand, procrastination is a familiar pattern for many learners and employees. The new research underscores that when delay becomes habitual, it can affect mood, sleep, posture, finances, and daily functioning. Thai health authorities advise that chronic procrastination is not laziness but a behavioural pattern tied to emotional and cognitive processes.

As artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT become increasingly integrated into education systems worldwide, much of the narrative has focused on a supposed crisis of academic integrity. Critics warn of students cheating en masse, forfeiting genuine learning, and entering the workforce less prepared than their predecessors. Yet, first-hand student perspectives reveal a more nuanced reality: the rapid embrace of AI in higher education is less about laziness and more about adapting to systemic upheaval, resource scarcity, and the lingering aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic (The Guardian).

A growing wave of cellphone restrictions is reshaping classrooms in North Carolina as educators and families seek to minimize digital distraction. Policies range from confiscation to secure storage solutions, sparking a broader debate about balancing student focus, safety, and access to learning tools. The developments offer timely lessons for Thai schools navigating rising smartphone use among youth.

Global smartphone ownership among students is climbing, with Thailand mirroring this trend. Thai teachers and administrators report that phones can disrupt lessons, complicate classroom management, and contribute to teacher burnout. Data from national studies show rising device ownership among Thai youth, underscoring the need for thoughtful guidance on when and how phones should be used in schools. As smartphone penetration grows, policymakers weigh how to protect learning while leveraging digital tools when appropriate.

A new wave of cellphone restrictions is sweeping schools in North Carolina, USA, as policymakers, educators, and families grapple with the disruptive presence of mobile devices in classrooms. Recent changes include policies ranging from outright confiscation to the use of locking storage pouches, stirring debate about how best to balance student focus, safety, and access to digital tools for learning. These developments offer valuable insights for Thai educators and policymakers facing similar concerns amid the rapidly growing use of smartphones among Thai youth.