COVID-19 and the impact on student mental health
One in five college students say their mental health has significantly worsened under COVID-19, according to new research from Active Minds.
All students will be dealing with new challenges during this pandemic. They may lose loved ones or contract the virus themselves. Remote learning could cause isolation and damage to the economy, may result in financial problems or concern about the future job market. Some students may even be assisting in the frontline effort to tackle the virus.
The consequences of these challenges should not be underestimated. Research has found a third of students drop out of university due to mental health reasons. And along with increased levels of depression and anxiety, a recent report found a disproportionate number (25.5%) of 18- to 24-year-olds had seriously considered suicide in the last 30 days.
How this college mental health crisis is affecting students with disabilities, already a vulnerable group on campus, is being felt by support departments across the US. Since the online shift began in Spring, more than two thirds of institutions have seen an increase in students applying for support and accommodations.
But with budgets stretched and typical channels of communication closed, providing necessary support has become more challenging. And given that disability resource offices will often be a student’s first point of contact with the wider institution, it’s more important now than ever for support professionals to orient students with available mental health support.
