My youngest started college this fall, classes fully online like many other students. Despite the pandemic, he started with excitement and optimism, but then came midterms. As the stress mounted, his enthusiasm for getting out of bed waned. He's not alone of course. One client observed that some students at a small college went completely AWOL mid-semester.
We know people the world over are suffering from stress and anxiety due to the pandemic. The CDC reported an increase in suicidal thoughts among young people ages 18 to 24 this August compared to reports for the same month two years ago. Last April as the number of coronavirus cases rose in Texas, the U.S., and parts of the world, researchers at Texas A&M University interviewed college students about their well-being. Students expressed concerns about their own health and their loved ones as well as their performance in classes. Large percentages struggled to concentrate and reported troubles with sleep.
You probably have observed these struggles among your own students this fall. Take a look at what these interviews exposed. I'm curious to hear what it's like on your campus.
Image by Tobias Rehbein from Pixabay