Covid-19: Repercussions on the mental health of higher education students

Abstract

This article aimed to assess the repercussions of Covid-19 and social isolation on the mental health of higher education students in Ceará, Brazil. The sample consisted of 3,691 higher education students taking online classes from June to September 2020, who answered to two instruments: a sociodemographic and situational profile questionnaire concerning the pandemic/social isolation, and the Mental Health Inventory. The results showed that 21.2% of the students had their activities canceled, with no expected
return. The majority, 77.2%, reported concern about the death of relatives and acquittances by Covid-19. The overall state of mental health average measured by the inventory was 48.8. This result suggests that students had their mental health affected by the conditions imposed by the pandemic. Therefore, educational institutions should promote strategies to protect the mental health of the student community.