The Mental Health Crisis Across College Campuses
By: Ashlyn McQuitty and Morgan Niesen
Since the beginning of the pandemic, college campuses across the nation have had major changes to their day-to-day operations. In the initial two weeks of campus closures, institutions transitioned to the online course setting for the safety of everyone. Little did administrators know that there would be major repercussions on their student’s mental health.
Now more than ever, college students are coming forward and expressing their struggles with mental health and the impacts that COVID-19 has had on it. For over a year, students have been forced to isolate themselves from their classmates and engage with courses online from home. While these are cautionary measures to keep students safe from the virus, the need for human connection is undeniable.
A 195-participant study conducted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine showed sobering results on the crisis among college students. The results of the study indicated that 71 percent of college students had increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Over half of these participating students are experiencing the effects that the virus has on mental health. Yet, this is just a study at the national level.
At the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, students are feeling just the same. Two students, in particular, are coming forward to show what it is really like to be a college student during this time.
Grace Nygaard, a sophomore student at UW-Parkside, shared that all too often, schoolwork is now flowing into other aspects of her life.
“Before the pandemic and when classes were face to face, I would only ever have quizzes and exams when we met for class,” said Nygaard. “Now I’m taking exams on Saturdays and have coursework submissions on Sunday’s.”
The overflow of schoolwork into personal life is making it hard for students to find a balance. It was only a matter of time before students hit their limits.
Shemayah Paige, a graduating senior at UW-Parkside shared that the overwhelming demands of online courses have led to a variety of mental health struggles.
“While engaging with courses during the pandemic, I’ve felt fear, anxiety, and depression,” said Paige. “I know so many other students can relate to me on this.”
In accordance with Nygaard and Paige’s concerns, a UW-Parkside professor acknowledges the ongoing problem among students and is concerned about how the upcoming fall semester will go.
Dr. Dana Oswald, professor of English at UW-Parkside, has noticed major shifts in her student’s desires to learn. “As online courses continue, students have become more and more passive no matter the activity or discussion,” said Oswald. “They struggle to engage with one another, and perhaps this is due to the exhaustion of the online course model.”
While some students struggle to connect with one another, Nygaard is dying for the chance to meet someone new.
“I was very excited to transfer to Parkside last fall,” said Nygaard. “But because I am new here, not having classes on campus means that I have had no opportunities to make any friends.”
Loneliness, the overarching theme amongst college students, has sparked initiatives across college campuses to provide students the resources they need to take care of their mental health.
Penn State, one of the largest college campuses in the United States, conducted a survey to uncover the reason students were seeking mental health services. The results were startling.
In each of the categories, ranging from loneliness to food insecurity, the survey showed that students were primarily seeking help due to the effects of the pandemic. Of those students seeking services due to the pandemic, over 80 percent of students indicated that it was mental health related.
The mental health crisis, even at a national level, is undeniable. Out of concern for the up-and-coming generation, many are wondering what is being done for students to get the help that they need.
UW-Parkside has adjusted its Student Health and Counseling Services in order to keep students and providers safe during this time. As students seek mental health guidance, Parkside is now offering tele counseling, which is their virtual appointment service via phone or video.
This allows students and providers to safely connect and work through issues together. Without tele counseling, many students would not be getting the help they so desperately need.
Because of all of the resources available at Parkside, Dr. Oswald encourages her students to use them. “Students need to work with health professionals and have backup systems in place for when things are tough.”
While institutions and professors are unable to make the pandemic end so literally for students, they are able to eliminate the negative effects that have come with it.
“Reaching out to faculty members with specific requests can help us to help them,” said Dr. Oswald. In hopes to alleviate her students’ stressors, Dr. Oswald has committed to checking in on her students throughout the semester and has remained flexible with her course schedules.
“Students need to let go of the feeling of needing to work all of the time, and schedule in leisure time,” said Dr. Oswald. “I worry about my students, and I want them to be okay.”
Multimedia PowerPoint: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13WIFpAjXiyn56seXkkDpIoA2TDFRQbGM8dMLYLoGrqc/edit?ts=6089d209#slide=id.p
