COVID 19 and Mental Health Inequities on College Campuses

By Nicole Carberry

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardship and many stressful situations for young people in the United States. Amongst many other challenges, the mental health of many college-aged students has drastically been affected by the pandemic. College-aged students, between the ages of 17 and 22, have reported an increase in feelings of anxiety and depression since 2020. Main causes of such increase include social isolation as well as the health effects and the stress related to a long state of uncertainty. It is also difficult for many to receive adequate support from mental health professionals.

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Many college students already have a lot of stressors in their lives including financial difficulties, preoccupation with grades, and an increase in self-reliance and responsibilities. There is also significant stigma associated with mental health conditions that often prevents students from seeking professional help. Adding the COVID-19 pandemic on top of  preexisting factors has served as a catalyst for an emerging mental health crisis among young people.   In fact, 71 % of college students have reported an increase in symptoms of stress and anxiety in 2021 when compared to data from January of 2019 (1).​
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Since the pandemic disproportionately affects communities of color and other groups that experience marginalization or vulnerability, reports on symptoms of anxiety and depression within this group are higher than among Non-Hispanic White adults (2). This is not surprising given the impact of social discrimination, such as racism, on mental health outcomes. Access to mental health professionals is also another  obstacle among  under resourced  communities. Many factors such as socioeconomic status, physical environment and cultural barriers also affect a person's willingness to seek help. Finally, the demand for mental health professionals has increased over the past two years alongside spiking costs. Moreover, there are significant inequities in access to mental health resources across different colleges. 
 
It is important for all college students to get adequate care and access to mental health professionals during their time on campus. We need to break the pervasive stigma about mental health issues and recognize the importance of connecting college students with mental health professionals, especially for these students who experience higher rates of vulnerability and disadvantage. 

​References

1. Son C, Hegde S, Smith A, Wang X, Sasangohar F. Effects of COVID-19 on College Students' Mental Health in the United States: Interview Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(9):e21279. Published 2020 Sep 3. doi:10.2196/21279
2. Panchal, N, Kamal, R, Cox, C.  Garfield, R. (2021)The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. Kaiser Family Foundation, February 10, 2021. Available at: https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

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​Author’s Bio: Nicole Carberry was the Fall-Spring 2022 Communication and Social Media Intern at Health Equity Initiative. She recently  graduated from The College of New Jersey with a B.A. in Communication Studies. Some of her passions include advocating for marginalized groups and community engagement.

Image credit: Unsplash, Kyle Gregory Devaras: https://unsplash.com/photos/6RTM8EsD1T8