It’s difficult to fully comprehend the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on any aspect of society, much less on a topic as complex as mental health. But as the U.S. reaches its three-year anniversary of the beginning of lockdown, it’s clear that the impact of this period isn't going away immediately.
According to Dr. Noshene Ranjbar, an associate professor of psychiatry at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson, the mental health impacts from the pandemic are complex. She explained the different impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of students, including learning difficulties, social isolation and substance abuse, along with the grief and loss caused by illness and death.
Dr. Trung (Jack) Duong is a fourth-year psychiatry resident at the UA College of Medicine – Tucson. He has noticed the increase in the need for mental health care, with more students reaching out for help with depression, anxiety and ADHD since the pandemic began. He has also noticed that there aren’t enough available psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors to meet this demand.
“There is an increase in need even after the pandemic and I feel like the shock wave might continue for many, many years to come,” Duong said.
Along with the learning difficulties from the pandemic, Ranjbar also mentioned the impact of technology on college students as harmful to mental health.
“Our brains are not wired to be in front of blue light and screens 20 hours of the 24 hours,” Ranjbar said.
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