By Dr. Rex Casiple
In March 2021, three high school students aged 13, 14 and 16 died from suicide in the province of Leyte. Police said that the victims suffered from depression resulting from family and personal problems including poor academic achievement. The school system is too stressful for these youths that may also result in depression and suicide.
For more than a year now, the COVID-19 pandemic caused negative impacts on our students in schools. This is due to the long pandemic situation, lockdowns, stay at home, social distancing and other measures and orders to combat coronavirus infections. It caused depressive thoughts among millions of students enrolled in schools across the country.
Studies showed that major contributors of such depressive thoughts are loneliness, insecurity or uncertainty, powerlessness or hopelessness, concerns about academic performance, overthinking, among others. Some students went to suicidal thoughts due to these depressive thoughts and problems with family at home.
Extreme vulnerability to depression and emotional breakdowns are most of the reasons why youths or students committed suicide. Records showed that in the province of Iloilo alone, there were lots of suicide cases last year 2020. Many who committed suicide were youths under mental stress, mental disorder or depression.
College students are vulnerable to mental health concerns. Majority of them are experiencing increased stress and anxiety due to this pandemic. They are worried about themselves, and their loved ones or family members’ health situations. Furthermore, studies showed that the difficulties among our students in concentrating on their studies due to increase stress and deteriorating mental health affect their self-confidence.
Removal from their social support system and extracurricular activities in school caused students less connected with their friends, organizations, and hobbies. They felt uncertain about their future and their health. They felt stressed and anxious. And there is an increased level of stress, anger, anxiety and depression among individuals in different parts of the world are being reported. The rise in the rate of anxiety and depression among young adults, especially among college students due to this pandemic is very alarming.
In line with students’ depression, psychiatrist developed tips for college students to avoid mental health deterioration. These are maintaining a daily routine of eating three healthy meals a day, getting at least one physical activity a day, getting some fresh air, go on a walk, run or bike ride; practicing a good sleep hygiene by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule of 7-9 hours per night; join or unite with others by making an effort to stay socially connected by engaging in regular video or phone calls with friends and family; taking a break time each day by doing something enjoying and relaxing or rejuvenating; among others.
Anxiety and depression have been reported to be caused by public emergencies including pandemics. Policymakers and healthcare educators at the universities shall implement different interventions and conduct workshops targeting the mental health of students, and to identify and implement resolutions that aim to optimize the learning process during the pandemic and maintain its efficiency.
The evolution of the pandemic may have long-term effects on mental health of our students. It is crucial to study the most effective interventions to identify vulnerable subgroups and to plan for acute and long-term psychological services to control and reduce the burden of psychological problems. Parents, guardians, family members, friends, teachers, school administrators, and many others can play a role in preventing suicide among our depressed students.
To prevent these suicide incidents to happen to our youths or students, direct social interaction and regular bonding time within the family members are also important to divert the students’ attention from study pressures in this time of pandemic.
