Through several years, statistics have shown different percentages of how mental health has been affecting kids attending school in the past years. The education system can be an associated problem when it comes to the influence it can cause on younger generations. School has been a big part in why the increase of mental health in students in today’s day and age has become a prominent issue.
COVID-19 has been a worldwide pandemic that has taken a toll on many people around the globe, but more specifically, students.
The meta-analysis results presented that the prevalence of depression (39%) or anxiety (36%) among Russian college students greatly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effect COVID-19 has had on a variety of students around the globe since the pandemic spread.
Since most universities and schools had to convert their education to online, it has caused a major turning point for students and the way they learn. Online schooling has caused many children to lose focus and not receive the same type of help they could when compared to an on hands learning system which they used to have.
For the foreseeable future, educators will have to grapple with a host of additional challenges that will complicate students’ abilities to learn, such as increased anxiety, substance abuse, and hyperactivity—all symptoms of the trauma many students have lived through these past 4 years.
This introduces the long term trauma students can face due to the pandemic. With multiple situations such as political movements and remote schooling, mental health has been a response to this. Overall, COVID has caused a change in the educational system which can impact the learning process of kids worldwide, causing mental issues. Focusing on students who have struggled the most in school during the pandemic as a way to reduce their mental health since the beginning of the outbreak.
Teachers, along with their students have been equally affected in terms of the concept of mental health. Studies have shown that students are not the only people that the education system troubles.
Faculty members play vital roles in supporting college student mental health, including recognizing and referring students to resources. Teachers and other faculty members throughout school play a huge role in a students mental health. Determine on what they chose to teach and how they involve their students through their material whether it be homework, projects, etc. can contribute to a students life.
However, a teacher's mental health also affects their students. If a teacher suffers through these types of issues it can contribute to what they project to the kids they teach. Teachers in emergency, chronic crisis and early recovery contexts receive minimal if any mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) help themselves, nor are they provided with initial and continuous professional development to safely nurture their students.
Teachers receive little to no support in terms of mental health, equivalent to their students. Despite their positions, everyone has a life outside their job, which can intervene in their work life. Thus, colliding with their students' work and or schooling as well. Teachers have a large influence on their students daily lives. Creating an environment in schools as a “safe space” for both students and teachers to talk about their problems and issues, can benefit the majority of people.
Through different factors in the education system, there are many effects that can correlate with a child's mental health. As a part of their daily routine, the way schools are administered go hand in hand with not only faculty but students, even through the pandemic.
Even though mental health problems have been relevant across the globe in students prior to the pandemic, the development of this issue has grown in recent years due to the outbreak making it more likely for kids to suffer through in 2021.
From the acts of former President Obama, new innovations such as more focused classroom time with students and recruiting new teaching candidates. These efforts have been made towards our education system, however after the pandemic and recent decline in mental health for not only students but faculty as well, it seems as though not people have truly benefited from these changes.
It was clear Obama’s acts in the past did not help much due to the current situation that has come upon our education. Because of the pandemic and the abrupt increase in mental health problems, new efforts need to be made.
These efforts could include a more open classroom time for students and faculty to speak about their health in and outside of school. Faculty can create a safe space for themselves and kids, where everyone can feel equally comfortable speaking about the issues that may be affecting them behind clothes doors.
Not only this, but schools can offer more safety requirements in correlation to COVID, so students are not forced to be online and can learn in a more compatible environment. These are only a few options toward improving our education system for students and faculty but more can be done.
Edited by Chloe Mansola
Image:"Free COVID-19 Illustrations" by Innovative Genomics Institute licensed by CC BY 4.0 DEED
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