scholarly journals Mental Health among Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Lithuania

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12737
Author(s):  
Emilijus Žilinskas ◽  
Giedrė Žulpaitė ◽  
Kristijonas Puteikis ◽  
Rima Viliūnienė
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues—anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and behavior—are prevalent among students of higher education. The COVID-19 pandemic further affected students’ daily life through academic and socioeconomic disturbances. We set out to investigate students’ mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and conducted a cross-sectional online survey at higher education institutions in Lithuania in 2021. The questionnaire consisted of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-3) questionnaires, evaluation of suicidal risk, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-rated health status (SRHS). Among 1001 students who completed the survey, the prevalence of clinically relevant anxiety was high (46.6%) and contrasted with the lower prevalence of depression (11.1%). 37.5% of all students admitted that they had thought about suicide at least once during their lifetime and a similar number of students thought about suicide during the previous year. High levels of anxiety and depression were statistically significant predictors of suicidal ideation and planning during the past year in binary regression models. High SRHS (higher score refers to more positive health status) was the only significant independent variable associated with less frequent suicidal attempts in the past year (p < 0.01, OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.66). Our study highlights anxiety and suicidality to be burdensome mental health issues among higher education students in Lithuania during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental health issues and sleep quality of Indian employees and higher education students during COVID-19 lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
B.L. Radhakrishnan ◽  
E. Kirubakaran ◽  
R.V. Belfin ◽  
Sudhakar Selvam ◽  
K. Martin Sagayam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues and sleep quality of Indian employees and higher education students during COVID-19 lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
B.L. Radhakrishnan ◽  
E. Kirubakaran ◽  
R.V. Belfin ◽  
Sudhakar Selvam ◽  
Ahmed A. Elngar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Perceived Stress in Italian Humanities Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 003329412098444
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Bert ◽  
Maria Ferrara ◽  
Edoardo Boietti ◽  
Elisa Langiano ◽  
Armando Savatteri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues are common among university students. Nevertheless, few studies focused on Italian students. This study aimed to assess prevalence and associated factors of perceived stress (PS), depressive symptoms (DS) and suicidal ideation (SI) in an Italian sample. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a convenience sample of students in humanities field (2018). Questionnaires were self-administered. Outcomes were assessed through Beck Depression Inventory-II (DS, SI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PS). Multivariable regressions were performed (p-value < 0.05 significant; sample size = 203). DS and SI prevalence was 30.6% and 8.8%. PS median score was 20 (IQR = 11), 87.7% reported moderate/severe PS. DS likelihood was increased by psychiatric disorders family history and not attending first year of course and decreased by not thinking that university hinders personal activities. Chronic disease and higher stress score increased SI probability; good/excellent family cohesion reduced it. Being female, thinking that university hinders resting/relaxing, seeing a psychologist/psychiatrist were positively associated with PS; having no worries about future was negatively associated. A high prevalence of mental health issues was reported, with miscellaneous associated factors that were linked to both private and social aspects. Universities must be aware of this to provide efficient preventive measures.

“Please Let It Stop”: Fear, Anxiety, and Uncertainty on the Neoliberal Tenure Track

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780042110298
Author(s):  
Kyle S. Bunds
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Foreign Country ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Tenure Track ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues

I have anxiety and I am not alone, although I have felt that way. Anxiety and depression are mental health issues that impact millions of individuals in our society. While discussions about mental health are improving, insofar as conversations are more frequent particularly during the 2020 to 2021 Coronavirus pandemic, more voices are needed to tell their stories of mental health and actions need to be taken to address systemic issues in a multitude of contexts. My context is that of a tenure-track middle-class white privileged male who began an intense battle with anxiety while undertaking a guest professorship in a foreign country. The autoethnographic narrative presented here is a composition of vignettes from my struggle with anxiety in the 4th and 5th tenure track years. Throughout, I attempt to openly present my struggles and conclude by proposing ways in higher education can aid faculty, staff, and students in creating a better structure.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 restriction measures on loneliness among older adults in Austria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Stolz ◽  
Hannes Mayerl ◽  
Wolfgang Freidl
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Opening Phase

Abstract Background To halt the spread of COVID-19, Austria implemented a 7-week ’lockdown’ in March/April 2020. We assess whether the ensuing reduction in social contacts led to increased loneliness among older adults (60+). Methods Three analyses were conducted: (1) A comparison between pre-pandemic (SHARE: 2013-2017) and pandemic (May 2020) levels of loneliness (UCLA-3 scale), (2) an assessment of the cross-sectional correlation between being affected by COVID-19 restriction measures and loneliness (May 2020), and (3) a longitudinal analysis of weekly changes (March-June 2020) in loneliness (Corona panel). Results We found (1) increased loneliness in 2020 compared with previous years, (2) a moderate positive association between the number of restriction measures older adults were affected from and their loneliness, and (3) that loneliness was higher during ’lockdown’ compared to the subsequent re-opening phase, particularly among those who live alone. Conclusion We provide evidence that COVID-19 restriction measures in Austria have indeed resulted in increased levels of loneliness among older adults. However, these effects seem to be short-lived, and thus no strong negative consequences for older adults’ mental health are expected. Nonetheless, the effects on loneliness, and subsequent mental health issues, might be both more long-lasting and severe if future restriction measures are enacted repeatedly and/or over longer time periods.

scholarly journals Cross sectional analysis of depression and stress in medical students

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler S. Jones ◽  
Deborah Rupert
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Medical student wellbeing is a topic of growing concern. Medical students experience high levels of stress and burnout and are at increased risk for depression and suicidal ideation compared to the general population. Even more concerning, medical students are disproportionately less likely to seek help for their mental health issues. Identifying and preventing these problems early can have lasting positive consequences over the course of a physician’s lifetime. We implemented a wellness program at our medical school in the spring of 2016 with the goals of decreasing burnout and depression, heightening awareness of mental health issues, and encouraging help-seeking behaviors. To analyze the impact of our program, we have implemented a quality assurance survey. Here we report lifestyle factors associated with positive screens for depression from that data and propose institutional initiatives that can be spearheaded by medical students for medical students to impact positive change.

The Continuing Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Well-Being and Mental Health of ICU Healthcare Workers in Turkey: A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Later-Phase Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 088506662110707
Author(s):  
Huseyin Duru
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Heavy Workload ◽  
Median Change

Background This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on physical well-being and mental health of ICU healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods A total of 51 ICU HCWs working at a tertiary care hospital were included in this cross-sectional study conducted before (January 2019-January 2020) and during (January 2021-April 2021) COVID-19 pandemic. Data on sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, COVID 19 history and current mental health issues via Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were recorded. Results Overall, 62.7% of participants were nurses, heavy workload (working ≥200 h/month) was reported by 76.5% of participants and previous history of COVID-19 was confirmed by 62.7%. Current mental health issues involved poor sleep quality in majority (96.1%) of participants, anxiety (51.0%), depression (51.0%) in at least half of them and a moderate degree of emotional exhaustion Heavy workload was associated with more remarkable decrease in sleep duration (median change: −0.5 vs. −1.0 h/day, P = .020), Vit B12 (median change: 60[−48-293] vs. −65[−371-262] pg/mL, P < .001) and Vit D (median change: −1.6[−13.1-20] vs. −9.7[−39.7-21.8] ng/mL, P = .004) during pandemic, while working hours per month were also significantly higher in those with versus without anxiety (264[150-390] vs. 240[150-264] h, P = .003) and with versus without depression (264[150-390] vs. 240[150-264] h, P = .037). Conclusion Our findings indicate high prevalence of mental health issues including anxiety and depression as well as poor sleep quality and emotional burnout among ICU HCWs, particularly those with heavy workload.

What's Seen and Unseen

2019 ◽  
pp. 95-109
Author(s):  
Claudia Marie Bertolone-Smith ◽  
Ana Maria Spagna
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Increased Pressure

Using the authors' varied experiences in the classroom with Gen Z and the next generation on its way, this chapter investigates an urgent and often unseen issue for students in higher education. With increased pressure to perform, a tension between time and technology, and lasting impacts from the Great Recession, Gen Z students suffer from a growing number of mental health issues. College coursework should challenge students; however, Gen Z often becomes impaired by what is a real and prevalent anxiety. The authors explore the ways Gen Z operates in the classroom, potential causes for this crisis, and solutions to improve Gen Z experiences in our institutions.

scholarly journals Financial stress and mental health among higher education students in the UK up to 2018: rapid review of evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 977-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayla McCloud ◽  
David Bann
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Financial Stress ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Uk

IntroductionIn the United Kingdom and many other countries, debt accrued during higher education has increased substantially in recent decades. The prevalence of common mental health problems has also increased alongside these changes. However, it is as yet unclear whether there is an association between financial stress and mental health among higher education students.MethodsWe conducted a rapid review of the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Eligible studies were English-language publications testing the association between any indicator of financial stress and mental health among higher education students in the UK. Papers were located through a systematic search of PsychINFO, PubMed and Embase up to November 2018.ResultsThe search strategy yielded 1272 studies—9 met the inclusion criteria. A further two were identified through hand-searching. The median sample size was 408. Only three of seven studies found an association between higher debt and worse mental health. There was a consistent cross-sectional relationship between worse mental health and both experience of financial difficulties (seven of seven studies) and debt worry/financial concern (four of five studies), though longitudinal evidence was mixed and limited to six studies.ConclusionAmong higher education students in the UK, there is little evidence that the amount of debt is associated with mental health. However, more subjective measures of increased financial stress were more consistently associated with worse mental health outcomes. Nevertheless, the identified evidence was judged to be weak; further research is required to examine whether links between financial stress and mental health outcomes are robust and causal in nature.

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