16-06-2025
Expert: Some families push too hard
PETALING JAYA: The main reason behind burnout, stress and anxiety is family pressure, say experts.
According to Amirul Azwa Azhar, some parents put immense pressure on their children to achieve greatness.
The guidance and counselling teacher from SM Teknik Kuala Lumpur said families often push students to obtain the best results and get the best job while comparing them with others.
'This issue sometimes doesn't have an end because the pursuit of greatness is a reason used often by families.
'Burnout, stress and anxiety among students have always been hiding in plain sight but their presence is more prominent nowadays thanks to awareness via social media.
'This is because times have changed and students have started to recognise them,' he said in response to burnout and anxiety issues among university students.
Amirul Azwa also said there is a tendency among students to make comparisons with the things they see on social media while pressuring themselves into becoming an unrealistic best version.
Another factor is the rapid pace of technological advancements.
'We are just beginning to understand the Industrial Revolution 4.0, but now we have to know artificial intelligence (AI).
'So this adds pressure on students because the rapid change means the job landscape also takes a shift. For students in search of their identity, this presents a great challenge.
'This is why I advise them to continue exploring their inner self and always seek help when you hit rock bottom because once you are down, the only way is up,' he said.
Amirul Azwa added the key to overcoming anything is by gaining knowledge through learning and reading while taking care of their mental health.
Eve Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre general manager Rozana Anthony pointed out that stress and anxiety have always been present, but just shaped by different factors depending on the era.
'For this generation, the stress is different. With AI, everyone's work looks polished – so how do you stand out? On top of that, expectations around creativity have quietly risen.
'And let's not even talk about the cost of tuition and living expenses. Students are juggling all of that plus trying to build a 'profile' to stay competitive after graduation.
'They see peers dropping out, some failing, others thriving after dropping out. It sparks this internal conflict: Is education still essential?
'Do we really need a degree to succeed in today's world, when everyone seems to have one and young entrepreneurs are thriving without it?' she said.
As such, she said a piece of paper cannot define a person.
'Instead, students must realise there is always a way out even though the journey is bumpy.
'While future employment prospects definitely cause anxiety, it is best not to lump it with the day-to-day academic stress.
'This is because the stress in university is already layered and intense -adding the job hunt on top of that only makes it heavier.
'I know it sounds cliche, but sometimes we have to repeat it to remind ourselves, and laugh a little along the way.
'People take different paths, and that's okay. At the end of the day, it's your attitude, work etiquette, proactiveness, openness to learning and the way you treat the role you are assigned to that matters,' Rozana said.
