How do Mexican high school students find emotional strength when they are having mental issues?

Background: Students in Mexico City seek multiple alternatives when they have experienced emotional crises. These incidences are generally referred to as “freak. ” These occurrences cause a constellation of feelings including loneliness, anger, sadness, frustration, and often fear. When individuals experience “freak,” they turn to alternatives to try and gain “balance” in their lives. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine where students turn for emotional strength to help them regain emotional stability and meaning to their lives following incidences of “freak.” Significance: This study represents the first of its kind to identify how Mexican students regain emotional stability after experiencing an occurrence of “freak.” Methods: A valid and reliable survey instrument was administered to a sample of 500 Mexican students enrolled in high schools within the National Autonomous University of Mexico during the 2011 academic year. Findings: Participants ranged between 17 – 19 years of age and reported an average of one “freak” episode per month. The sources of “freak” included family issues followed by relationships, peers, and school pressures. Listening or playing music, sleeping, talking with a close friends and trying to find a new girl or boyfriend were major ways students coped with “freak.” Few students turned to drug or alcohol use as a coping mechanism. Conclusions/Recommendations: The results of this study show that students seek various sources of “solace” when trying to regain “mental stability” following occurrences of “freak.” School personnel should develop additional programs to which students can turn when facing these situations.