Explanation paper
Mental health and academic pressure
Local issue our team wants to address
A significant issue in Gujranwala is the rising stress and emotional
exhaustion experienced by students at Gujranwala Medical College (GMC).
Over 40% of students report frequent stress, with many feelings
overwhelmed, restless, and struggling to focus on their academic
responsibilities. This pressure is driven by intense academic demands,
financial burdens, family-related stress, and dissatisfaction with campus
facilities. Addressing this issue could involve organizing stress
management workshops, providing accessible mental health support, and
improving the overall academic environment to help students cope better
with the pressures they face.
What each member will research and do
Each member of our team contributed to different areas of the project
based on our topic, Mental Health and Academic Pressure. Rohma Batool
created posters highlighting the causes and consequences of
academic stress, designed brochures, and worked on a skit
documentary to creatively present our message. Zahra Batool designed
a brochure outlining courses of action, made an anime-style visual,
and helped analyse the results of the entry and exit tickets, along
with collecting student interview and survey responses. Madeeha
Fareed contributed by creating skits and conducting research on
different countries and cities to provide a global perspective. Aroosh
Ahmed gathered statistical data, helped with interviews, and designed
multiple posters for our Instagram account. Zara Hejaz focused on
preparing the pre- and post-survey slide, which helped measure the
overall impact of our project. Together, we collaborated on designing and
sharing informative content to raise awareness about mental health and
academic pressure.
An outline of action our team took
Of course! Here's a clear and impactful outline of the actions your team
took for the project on Mental Health and Academic Pressure:
Outline of Our Team’s Action
1. Identifying the Problem
2. Our team began by selecting the topic of Mental Health and
Academic Pressure, recognizing its growing impact on students in
both local and international settings.
Research and Data Collection
We conducted extensive research on the causes, effects, and possible
solutions to academic stress. This included:
a. Interviews with students of various age groups.
b. Surveys to gather public opinions and personal experiences.
c. Statistical analysis of mental health trends related to
academic pressure.
d. Research on how different countries and cities address the
issue.
3. Creative Content Development
To spread awareness and engage our audience, we designed a variety of
content:
a. Informative posters highlighting causes, consequences, and
solutions.
b. A brochure explaining courses of action.
c. A creative anime-style video to connect with younger
audiences.
d. Skits and a documentary-style video to depict real-life
struggles.
e. A dedicated Instagram page ("Serenity Squad") where all
content was shared.
4. Awareness Campaign
Through our Instagram platform, we:
a. Shared posters and videos regularly.
b. Engaged followers through entry and exit tickets to track
awareness and learning.
c. Encouraged student interaction by posting relatable content
and results from our surveys and interviews.
5. Reflection and Impact Assessment
We analysed the responses from our surveys and entry/exit tickets to
assess the effectiveness of our project. The feedback showed increased
awareness and understanding among students regarding the emotional
toll of academic pressure.
The plan of action
Perfect! Since your GP project is focused on mental health and
academic pressure, here’s a clear, step-by-step Plan of Action
tailored to that:
🧠📚 Plan of Action: Mental Health and Academic Pressure
1. Set Clear Objectives
Investigate how academic pressure affects students' mental health.
Identify common stressors (e.g., exams, parental expectations,
school workload).
Explore coping mechanisms students use or lack.
Propose ways schools and society can support students better.
2. Background Research
Read articles, studies, and reports on academic stress and youth
mental health (global + Pakistan-specific).
Note key statistics and quotes to support your points.
Summarize at least 3–5 reliable sources for your GP folder.
3. Design Survey Questions
Create a Google Form with:
o Multiple choice (e.g., How often do you feel stressed about
school?)
o Scale ratings (e.g., Rate your stress during exams from 1–10)
o Short answer questions (e.g., What helps you relax?)
Keep it anonymous and simple to encourage honest responses.
4. Distribute the Survey
Share it with students (13–19 years old) through:
o School groups, class WhatsApp chats
o Serenity Squad Instagram account
Target at least 100 responses for solid data.
5. Conduct Interviews
Interview 3–5 students for deeper insight (optional: also a teacher or
counselor).
Ask open-ended questions like:
o "What causes you the most stress in school?"
o "Do you think schools are doing enough to support mental
health?"
Record (with permission) or take notes.
6. Analyze Your Findings
Use pie charts, bar graphs, or percentages to present survey data.
Highlight key insights and patterns.
Include quotes from interviews to personalize the issue.
7. Create Posters/Infographics
Design posters showing:
o Signs of academic stress
o Healthy coping strategies (sleep, time management, breaks)
o Where to seek help (helplines, counselors)
Share online and possibly display in school (if allowed).
8. Instagram Awareness Campaign (Serenity Squad)
Post 2–3 times a week:
o Real stories (with permission)
o Study tips + self-care ideas
o Polls/questions to engage followers
Use hashtags like #StudentMentalHealth #AcademicPressure
#SerenitySquad
9. Compile Your Project
Organize everything into a folder or digital portfolio:
o Intro + objectives
o Research summary
o Survey + results
o Interview findings
o Posters/screenshots from social media
o Conclusion + reflection
10. Reflection & Evaluation
Reflect on:
o What you learned
o Challenges faced
o The impact of your work
Include future suggestions like school workshops or student support
clubs.
The role and responsibility of each team member
Got it — no designated leader. Here's an updated version where all
members have equal standing, and the responsibilities are divided
collaboratively:
👥 Roles and Responsibilities (Equal Contribution)
Member 1: [Zahra Batool]
Conducted background research on the causes and effects of
academic pressure.
Helped formulate survey questions related to student stress and
coping mechanisms.
Participated in the analysis of survey results and creation of graphs.
Member 2: [madeeha fareed]
Focused on gathering information about mental health among
students.
Helped distribute the survey and encouraged peers to participate.
Took part in writing and organizing the report.
Member 3: [rohma batool]
Conducted interviews with students to gather qualitative insights.
Summarized interview responses and selected quotes for the final
report.
Assisted in designing posters and visual content for awareness.
Member 4: [aroosh ahmed]
Managed social media content through the Serenity Squad
Instagram account.
Designed mental health infographics and awareness posts.
Collaborated with others to ensure content aligned with the project's
goals.
How our team will evidence our action
To evidence our actions, our team will document each phase of the
project through a combination of surveys, interviews, social media
posts, and design work. We will collect and analyse survey data,
showing the impact of academic pressure on students' mental health,
along with interview transcripts or key quotes to add depth. All visual
materials (posters, infographics, social media content) will be saved and
shared on our Serenity Squad Instagram. Finally, we’ll keep a record of all
research articles and reports referenced, and our project timeline will
demonstrate how we managed and completed each task. These materials
will serve as tangible evidence of our collaboration, research, and overall
impact.
How our team will measure the success of our action
Our team will measure success through the survey response rate,
social media engagement (likes, comments, shares), feedback from
peers and teachers, and the reach of our awareness materials. We’ll also
assess the impact of our findings based on data insights from surveys
and interviews. These metrics will help us determine the effectiveness of
our actions.
Changes in our plan and reasons for them
Initially we planned a public awareness session in a public school but due
to permission issues and low turnout we shifted our focus into online
engagement which proved more effective
