11 Maritime Students’ Perception of Mental Wellness
117
11.6 Conclusion
This study was geared towards investigating the perception of the maritime university
students with regard to their mental well-being. There is dearth of research conducted
on the maritime students’ mental wellness. The main objective was to specifically
determine the students’ understanding of their own mental wellness conditions with
all the challenges and adversities being university residents. Finding the crucial space
for their mental wellness development is important for these students if they aspire
to excel in life beyond the university realm. From the mean analysis results obtained
from the survey, it was implied that the mental outlooks of these respondents were
positive. The respondents in this study were generally aware of their life goals with
most of them harbouring some form of ambitions. This is to say that despite the odds
living away from home saddled with the accompanying challenges, these students
were still mentally well and sound with the exception of a few. Those few students
who displayed negativity about life may have experienced some form of preliminary
triggers that led to their inability to feel positive about their lives. However, this small
group of students should not be overlooked as they may need proper guidance and help
to prevent them from resorting to dangerous measures to solve their problems such as
being suicidal etc. All relevant parties such as the faculty members and counsellors
should take pre-emptive measures to mitigate problems of mental wellness among
our university students.
Addressing adolescents early in their college lives with wellness information
particularly in universities presents us with multiple benefits. Such information does
not only help these youths to wilfully engage in practising a lifestyle that highlights
wellness early during adolescence, it will also assist them to alleviate an unhealthy
lifestyle later on in adulthood. In addition, it is important to consider the students’
understandings of the wellness concept when planning, designing, implementing and
evaluating wellness programmes for the university students.
References
1. Laidlaw, J.M., Ozakinci, G.: Understanding undergraduate student perceptions of mental health,
mental wellbeing and help seeking behaviour. Stud. High. Educ. 41, 2156–2168 (2016)
2. Kang, M: Activities that promote wellness for older adults in rural communities. J Extension
4, 1–5 (2009)
3. American College for Advancement in Medicine: Illness-wellness continuum [Internet]. Irvine:
WellPeople, [cited February 1, 2015]. Available from: http://www.wellpeople.org/IllnessWelln
ess_Continuum.aspx (2011). Accessed on 23 September 2020
4. Prilleltensky, I.: The role of power in wellness, oppression and liberation: The promise of
psycho-political validity. J. Community Psychol 36, 116–136 (2008)
5. McManus, S., Bebbington, P., Jenkins, R., Brugha, T. (eds.): Mental health and wellbeing in
England: Adult psychiatric morbidity survey. NHS Digital, Leeds (2016)
6. Mental Health Statistics: Mental health statistics: The most common mental health
problems. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-healthstatistics-most-commonmental-health-problems (2018). Accessed 25 April 2020
117
11.6 Conclusion
This study was geared towards investigating the perception of the maritime university
students with regard to their mental well-being. There is dearth of research conducted
on the maritime students’ mental wellness. The main objective was to specifically
determine the students’ understanding of their own mental wellness conditions with
all the challenges and adversities being university residents. Finding the crucial space
for their mental wellness development is important for these students if they aspire
to excel in life beyond the university realm. From the mean analysis results obtained
from the survey, it was implied that the mental outlooks of these respondents were
positive. The respondents in this study were generally aware of their life goals with
most of them harbouring some form of ambitions. This is to say that despite the odds
living away from home saddled with the accompanying challenges, these students
were still mentally well and sound with the exception of a few. Those few students
who displayed negativity about life may have experienced some form of preliminary
triggers that led to their inability to feel positive about their lives. However, this small
group of students should not be overlooked as they may need proper guidance and help
to prevent them from resorting to dangerous measures to solve their problems such as
being suicidal etc. All relevant parties such as the faculty members and counsellors
should take pre-emptive measures to mitigate problems of mental wellness among
our university students.
Addressing adolescents early in their college lives with wellness information
particularly in universities presents us with multiple benefits. Such information does
not only help these youths to wilfully engage in practising a lifestyle that highlights
wellness early during adolescence, it will also assist them to alleviate an unhealthy
lifestyle later on in adulthood. In addition, it is important to consider the students’
understandings of the wellness concept when planning, designing, implementing and
evaluating wellness programmes for the university students.
References
1. Laidlaw, J.M., Ozakinci, G.: Understanding undergraduate student perceptions of mental health,
mental wellbeing and help seeking behaviour. Stud. High. Educ. 41, 2156–2168 (2016)
2. Kang, M: Activities that promote wellness for older adults in rural communities. J Extension
4, 1–5 (2009)
3. American College for Advancement in Medicine: Illness-wellness continuum [Internet]. Irvine:
WellPeople, [cited February 1, 2015]. Available from: http://www.wellpeople.org/IllnessWelln
ess_Continuum.aspx (2011). Accessed on 23 September 2020
4. Prilleltensky, I.: The role of power in wellness, oppression and liberation: The promise of
psycho-political validity. J. Community Psychol 36, 116–136 (2008)
5. McManus, S., Bebbington, P., Jenkins, R., Brugha, T. (eds.): Mental health and wellbeing in
England: Adult psychiatric morbidity survey. NHS Digital, Leeds (2016)
6. Mental Health Statistics: Mental health statistics: The most common mental health
problems. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-healthstatistics-most-commonmental-health-problems (2018). Accessed 25 April 2020