A new survey suggests COVID-19 is taking a toll on students’ mental health.
Active Minds surveyed over 3000 high school and college students in mid-April. 80 percent said the pandemic negatively affected their mental health. One in five said their mental health has significantly worsened during this crisis. This is particularly concerning because roughly one-third of college students are treated for mental health concerns each year.
And over half of the students said they don’t know where to go if they need help.
Staying home can be problematic for high school and college students alike. Some may have a parent who’s sick with coronavirus. Some have family members working on the front lines in healthcare. Some may be dealing with financial stress at home, especially if their parents are now unemployed.
Add to that the loss and fear of the unknown many college students have: loss of living with their friends, loss of internships, a suddenly much more challenging job market, fear of not knowing what their futures will bring, and not knowing when this crisis will end.
Schools can help students deal with this coronavirus loss and uncertainty by holding open group video conference sessions with counselors. Students already seeing counselors might be able to attend virtual therapy appointments.
And parents can help by talking to our kids on a regular basis and listening to their concerns. As parents, we might not be able to reverse the damage this virus has caused, but we might be able to help them better cope with the aftermath.
