Mental health and the impact of COVID-19

 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 there has been an increase of mental health issues in university students.

Pupils are having to self-isolate from their peers and family, when living in halls. The Mind for better mental health suggests how young adults aged 18–24 reported that their mental health and wellbeing has worsened during the lockdown. 73% of students reported decline in their mental health due to the pandemic. 

Viscount Vincent a mechanical engineer student from John Moors university states that his mental health has improved due to the ease of the lockdown. However, there are certain rules everyone must follow as the lockdown has not lifted completely.

“I have not been able to have the full experience, restaurants have opened as well but they do have a rule of six and all six people have to be from the same household, so I haven’t been able to go out with any of my flat mates as they’ve all gone back home”

If students are unable to go out with their loved once it is advisable to keep in contact with friends and family and getting regular physical exercise to prevent anxiety and depression. Viscount suggests that he made sure to keep himself busy to keep his brain occupied. John Moors university are offering wellbeing support to student regarding mental health issues on their website. They offer a student wellbeing advisor; someone they can talk to whenever they are feeling down or having negative thoughts in this pandemic.

During the second national lockdown, the Young Minds article states that 2,438 people between the age of 13-25 years old showcase 75% of respondents agreed that they have found the current lockdown harder to cope with than the previous one, including 44% who said it was much harder. (14% said it was easier, 11% said it was the same). In contrast to now with the lockdown easing anxiety and well-being in young adults as improved as they are now able to go to the park with close settings and see their loved once, outside restaurants are now open with other outdoors activities allowing people to socilaise.