Due to COVID19 lockdown, social restrictions, and closure of schools, almost one in four children have been passing moments in anxiety while many are at risk of lasting psychological distress, including depression.
By the end of March 2020, most of the college students were impacted by campus closures due to the COVID19 pandemic.
Now, both students and schools are in limbo.
The schools and colleges have started classes online.
The students, who were in hostels and rented rooms, have returned home and their campus life with its vital resources and support networks has come to a halt.
They have missed their friends and are finding it difficult to study due to lack of resources.
They are now feeling anxious, sad, and are passing days with uncertainty.
Due to these disruptions, college students are reporting increased stress.
This adds to the ongoing concerns over the students’ mental health.
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include fear and worry about their own health and the health of their loved ones, changes in sleep or eating patterns, and difficulty in sleeping or concentrating.
Such conditions also worsen chronic health problems, worsen mental health, increase the use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, and so on.
However, there are ways to lessen the stress.
To understand and practice ways to cope up with the present situation, the Department of Electrical Engineering, GIMT Guwahati in collaboration with Assam Science and Technology University (ASTU) gears up to organise a webinar titled ‘Navigating and Dealing with Uncertain Future due to Covid-19 Pandemic’ on May 29, 2020 from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm.
The resource person of the webinar is Tribenee Bhattacharyya, NLP Psychotherapist and counselor.
Tribenee Bhattacharyya is the founder of Optimista Learning Hub – Softskills and Mental skills Training Institute.
Speaking on the event, the faculty coordinator of the webinar, Dr. Sandip Bordoloi, HoD of Department of Electrical Engineering, GIMT Guwahati, said, “This webinar will bring into focus the issue of mental health of the students, especially those studying engineering and technology.”
“These students are already under stress during normal days. Without campus support during this pandemic situation, they are facing lots of mental issues,” Dr Bordoloi added.
It is hoped that the webinar will be able to address the mental health issues of the students.