ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL MECHANISM FOR ENSURING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Introduction. In the current conditions of deep socio-economic transformations caused by total digitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic and, most importantly, the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the issue of ensuring the mental health of modern Ukrainians is becoming increasingly relevant.

Summary of the main results of the study. The diversity of Ukrainian society, which has become more noticeable since 2014 against the backdrop of the war; obtaining unequal experience during the war; the presence of distinctive political views or ambiguous attitudes towards the events taking place; the unequal state of material security of the population; the gap between the rear and the front and much more, which can later cause tension among citizens, therefore, society must already today become adaptively flexible in order to be able to adapt to changes; resilient in order to withstand challenges, and knowledgeable in order to realistically assess the state of affairs, that is, to exist within the framework of a strategy to increase social inclusion. Social inclusion is partly achieved through access to markets and services, in particular educational ones, so education and social inclusion are closely related. Ukrainian universities should make a powerful contribution to overcoming crisis phenomena and forming a new social paradigm, in particular by promoting social inclusion. The relevance of the outlined topic is due to the need to improve the administrative and legal tools that are able to effectively respond to the needs of student youth in the field of mental health. The problem of human health today has grown to planetary proportions, since the future of humanity depends on it. Mental disorders have been studied by various specialists at different times. Today, this problem is a circle of scientific interests of psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists and other specialists who are interested in studying various aspects of mental health and its improvement. The purpose of the study is to analyze the administrative and legal principles (mechanism) of ensuring the mental health of students in higher education institutions of Ukraine and to formulate proposals for its improvement.

To achieve this goal, we will define the following tasks:

- To reveal the concept and meaning of the mental health of student youth;

- To identify the subjects of the administrative and legal mechanism for ensuring the mental health of participants in the educational environment in higher education institutions;

- To analyze the current legislation in the field of ensuring the mental health of student youth;

- To identify the components of the administrative and legal mechanism for ensuring the mental health of student youth.

The mental health of students in higher education institutions is determined by a set of factors. This is a state of well-being that affects academic motivation, academic success, social interaction and the overall quality of life of students. Today, the educational policy of higher education institutions is aimed at creating a psychologically comfortable, safe and inclusive educational environment by increasing the competence of all participants in the educational process; studying stress factors and minimizing their impact; creating conflict-free conditions for interpersonal communication; cultivating mechanisms of psychological resilience of students in the process of their education by familiarizing them with the main strategies of stress resistance, etc. The subjects of the administrative and legal mechanism for ensuring the mental health of participants in the educational environment in higher education institutions are, in particular, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; higher education institutions themselves, represented by their leadership; the psychological service of the higher education institution; student self-government. Thus, the Ministry of Education and Science determines the policy and regulatory framework, the management of the higher education institution provides institutional conditions, psychological services work directly with students, and student self-government acts as a connecting link between students and the administration. It is important that all these levels interact systematically, ensuring a holistic model of mental health support in higher education institutions. At a time when students are faced with numerous psychological challenges - war, uncertainty, distance learning, financial difficulties, an important role among the subjects that ensure the mental health of participants in the educational environment in higher education institutions is played by student self-government - an autonomous, democratic environment that unites students around solving important issues, in particular regarding their well-being and mental comfort. Its role is not only to represent the interests of students, but also to create a safe, supportive environment. In the structure of the administrative and legal mechanism for ensuring the mental health of student youth, the following components can be distinguished: regulatory and legal support for the process; the presence of an organizational management structure; implementation of administrative and managerial procedures; legal regulation of rights and obligations; application of control and sanction instruments.

Conclusions. Therefore, supporting the mental health of students in higher education institutions is of great importance, especially in conditions of martial law and given that the role of higher education institutions as a center of social inclusion and cohesion, where citizens with different capabilities and abilities meet and socialize, respect for human rights, a sense of unity, and solidary views towards the revival of post-war Ukrainian society, is increasingly growing.