COVID-19 Impacts on Students' Mental Health
By: Alli Miron
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With more than 43 million cases and over 700,000 deaths in the United States from COVID-19 (worldometers), the United States was faced with an Important decision that would affect students from elementary schools to university students. Should schools remain open for in person instruction or should schools change procedures to try and slow the spread of the Coronavirus? Many schools either shut down or shifted to virtual learning. Today, we will learn about how those decisions impacted the mental health of the students In the United States.
With more than 43 million cases and over 700,000 deaths in the United States from COVID-19 (worldometers), the United States was faced with an Important decision that would affect students from elementary schools to university students. Should schools remain open for in person instruction or should schools change procedures to try and slow the spread of the Coronavirus? Many schools either shut down or shifted to virtual learning. Today, we will learn about how those decisions impacted the mental health of the students In the United States.
Learning Targets
Learning Targets
Describe how COVID-19 impacted students motivation during online learning
Explain how students mental health were affected by safety protocols of COVID-19
Describe ways we can improve mental health that has been impacted by COVID-19
How has COVID-19 impacted students' motivation to online learning?
With the safety of others in mind, most schools in the United States switched to online learning. While some students adjusted well to the transition of no longer being in a physical classroom, others did not. Not all students do well with online learning because they may prefer the comfort of having a teacher physically in front of them for extra help. Others may not like online because they may feel added pressure to have to learn the material on their own (Grubic, 2020) and lack the motivation to do so. Online learning also has less structure because students can mostly do it on their own time and due dates can become lost or procrastination can set in because it usually is a more laid back schedule.
With the safety of others in mind, most schools in the United States switched to online learning. While some students adjusted well to the transition of no longer being in a physical classroom, others did not. Not all students do well with online learning because they may prefer the comfort of having a teacher physically in front of them for extra help. Others may not like online because they may feel added pressure to have to learn the material on their own (Grubic, 2020) and lack the motivation to do so. Online learning also has less structure because students can mostly do it on their own time and due dates can become lost or procrastination can set in because it usually is a more laid back schedule.
How has the safety protocols of COVID-19 affected students' mental health?
For the first time since the 1918 flu pandemic, the United States shut down and forced people to stay in their homes and away from others (Pragholapati, 2020). With COVID-19 bringing in more cases daily, students were told that they would need to wear a face covering and keep six feet away from each other. This added more stress to students situations because they were lacking human interaction. Students In elementary and university levels have both felt an Impact on their mental health due to some of the new normal procedures. Coming from my daughter Alexis' perspective who is in third grade, "masks make it harder for her to hear her teacher and her teacher to be able to hear her". She also misses being able to interact with her friends in a closer proximity. Some students switched to online learning and had to delay graduating on time due to not adjusting well to online classes (Sahu, 2020). Higher stress levels were affecting students well-being and major depressive order among college students is at an all time high since the COVID-19 pandemic began (Chirikov, 2020).
IMG_0745.MOVWhat are some ways we can improve mental health that has been impacted by COVID-19?
Since 2020 was the first time that the United States shut down since the flu pandemic of 1918 (Pragholapati, 2020), people had to find ways to adjust to being isolated in their homes and away from others.
Facetime or Buddy System
Facetime or Buddy System
With technology people are able to connect over the internet or by making a FaceTime call.
Having a buddy system so you can check on each other on the regular.
Volunteering at local shelters for people or animals
Volunteering at local shelters for people or animals
Putting good out Into the world can release endorphins. One way a person could boost their mood Is by volunteering at shelters for people or animals (Thakur, 2020).
*Pictured above are my 3 rescue dogs
National Suicide Hotline
National Suicide Hotline
Some people may feel like a burden If they were to call a friend or family member. Sometimes humans take on more than they can handle and If anyone ever feels alone and needs to talk they can call the National Suicide Prevention Line at
1-800-273-8255
Questions about COVID-19 Impacts on Students' Mental Health:
Which mental health disorder Is at an all time high since COVID-19?
a. acute stress disorder
b. bipolar disorder
c. generalized anxiety disorder
d. major depressive disorder
What are ways we can Improve mental health that has been Impacted by COVID-19 (that are listed)?
a. Buddy system and volunteering at shelters
b. Checking In on Facebook or by phone
c. Having a get together with friends
d. Starting a YouTube channel and Blog
*Answers are at bottom of reference page
References
Chirikov, I., Soria, K.M., Horgos, B. (2020) Undergraduate and graduate students mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/80k5d5hw
Grubic, N., Badovinac, S., Johri, A.M. (2020). Student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for further research and immediate solutions. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0020764020925108
Pragholapati, A. (2020). COVID-19 impact on students. https://edarxiv.org/895ed
Sahu, P. (2020). Closure of universities due to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Impact on education and mental health of students and academic staff. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7198094/
Thakur, A. (2020). Mental health in high school students at the time of COVID-19: A student’s perspective. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7448765/
Worldometer. (2021). United States Coronavirus cases. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
Answers: 1. D, 2. A
*ALL IMAGE BACKGROUNDS WERE TAKEN BY MYSELF ALLI MIRON 10/30/21
Comments and Reflection
Comments:
Reflection:
From doing this project I knew that students were struggling with adjustments during COVID-19 however, I did not know that major depressive order was at the largest point that It has been In years. I also did not know that 2020 was the first year that the United States had shut down since the flu pandemic In 1918. I did not change my perspective on the topic that I chose because myself and my kids had a hard time during the COVID-19 procedures.
Changes that I made before my final submission are: rewording my learning target objectives, alphabetizing my multiple choice questions, and adding background Images that I took myself of all the different kinds of masks my kids and I own.
I made these changes because my peers had suggested to reword my learning targets so fellow readers can have a better understanding of my content. I added the background Images so my page would not have a plain background.
If I had more time on my project I would look for different sides for a positive and negative effect on adjusting to online learning and mental health during COVID-19. I would also add more videos to give more variety.
The motivation would be to show the different sides because maybe COVID-19 did not have a negative effect on a lot of the students at ODU. The reason why my topic does have some bias Is because I have witnessed It on the college side and elementary side In my own household and It took a toll on me as a mom.
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