PSLE#22 English Oral – Unplugging for Peace: Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age
PSLEhacker Episode #22 - TREE Method
Date of News Article: 19 September 2024 (Based on the actual release date of the IMH National Youth Mental Health Study) Source: Adapted from The Straits Times & CNA (Health & Youth)
Reading Passage:
A recent National Youth Mental Health Study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) revealed concerning statistics about the well-being of young Singaporeans. According to the study, nearly a third of young people aged 15 to 35 reported symptoms that included feeling empty, tense, or upset most of the time. Furthermore, anxiety was the most common mental health problem experienced by young people in Singapore.
Researchers highlighted several key factors associated with these mental health struggles. Young people who spent more than three hours daily on social media, experienced cyberbullying, or had moderate to severe concerns about their body shape were significantly more likely to report these symptoms. The anonymity of the online world has given rise to cyberbullying, which adds a new dimension of harassment. At the same time, the constant sharing of visual images on social media can deeply impact a student’s body image concerns.
To combat this impending crisis, schools and communities are stepping up. Mental health lessons were introduced as part of a refreshed Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum to help students regulate their emotions and seek help early. In addition, all schools have established peer support structures, training students to listen actively and look out for their friends.
While professional help is available, tackling this issue requires a collective effort. Parents are encouraged to establish safe spaces for communication, and students must learn to set healthy boundaries online. By taking a proactive approach to limit screen time and looking out for one another, youths can make a meaningful and wise choice to protect their mental well-being in the digital age.
Word Count: 298 words
PSLE Oral Practice: Stimulus-Based Conversation (TREE Method)
Question 1: Visual Stimulus
“Look at the picture. How do you think the teenager is feeling, and what might be causing it?”
Thought (T): The teenager looks extremely stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed by whatever they are looking at on their smartphone.
Reason (R): Because they are alone in a dark room with many notifications popping up, they might be experiencing cyberbullying, or they might be feeling the pressure of comparing their own life to the “perfect” lives of others on social media.
Experience (E): I have friends who sometimes feel very upset when someone leaves a mean comment on their online posts. It can be hard to ignore because the internet is always on. When I see my friends feeling down about this, I try to remind them that social media is not real life, which helps to forge a strong sense of camaraderie between us.
Ending (E): Therefore, it is a wise choice to step away from the screen when it starts to negatively affect our emotions.
Question 2: Personal Opinion
“Do you agree that spending too much time on social media affects a student’s mental health? Why or why not?”
Thought (T): Yes, I completely agree that excessive time on social media can harm a student’s mental health.
Reason (R): When we spend hours scrolling, we often lose sleep and neglect our real-life hobbies or studies. Also, constantly seeing curated, picture-perfect images can make us feel insecure about our own appearances or lives.
Experience (E): During the school holidays, I once found myself spending over three hours a day watching short videos. I realized it made me feel very lethargic and slightly irritable. I decided to byte the bullet and set a strict one-hour daily limit on my apps. Redirecting my energy to reading and cycling gave me a deep sense of accomplishment.
Ending (E): By being proactive and setting healthy boundaries with our devices, we can protect our peace of mind.
Question 3: Solution-Based
“Besides relying on school counsellors, how can you and your classmates support a friend who is feeling very stressed?”
Thought (T): We can support our friends by being observant, offering a listening ear, and encouraging them to take breaks.
Reason (R): Sometimes, a student might be too shy or scared to approach an adult directly. As their peers, we are usually the first to notice if they become unusually quiet or skip meals.
Experience (E): In my school, our teachers inculcate the importance of peer support. If I notice a classmate looking overwhelmed before an exam, I will offer to study with them or simply buy them a drink from the canteen to cheer them up. If the problem is serious, I will accompany them to speak to a trusted teacher so they don’t have to face it alone.
Ending (E): Ultimately, if we all do our part to look out for one another, we can create a warm and supportive environment where no one has to struggle in silence.
Reading at your free time……………….
Theme: Mental Well-being / Cyber Wellness / Peer Support
Visual Stimulus: A photo of a teenager sitting alone in a dimly lit bedroom, looking visibly distressed and overwhelmed while staring at a smartphone screen. The screen shows multiple notification bubbles.
📖 Vocabulary List
Anonymity (Noun): The condition of being anonymous or unknown to others (often making people bolder online).
Impending (Adjective): (Of an event regarded as threatening or significant) about to happen; forthcoming.
Curated (Adjective): Carefully chosen and thoughtfully organized or presented.
Lethargic (Adjective): Affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic.
Boundaries (Noun): Limits or rules that a person creates to identify what are reasonable, safe, and permissible ways for other people to behave around them.
🌟 Idiom of the Day
“A problem shared is a problem halved”
Meaning: If you tell someone about a problem you are having, it will seem less daunting and easier to deal with.
PSLE Oral Usage: “We must encourage students to speak up when they are stressed, because a problem shared is a problem halved.”


