Chegg, a US-based education technology company, recently published a survey report that claims the pandemic has affected the mental health of students from around the world. The survey conducted between October and November 2020 included 16,839 undergraduate students aged 18–21 years from 21 countries. These participants came from the US, Canada, UK, Russia, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, China, Turkey, Kenya, Germany, France, and Italy.
81 percent of the participants reported an uptick in stress and anxiety levels amid the pandemic. 17 percent looked for support for mental health struggles. 90 percent of Italian students stated that they experienced higher stress levels, and 87 percent of students in Brazil and Argentina reported similar concerns. Sadly, 15 percent of the participants stated that they even contemplated ending their life. Moreover, 8 percent inflicted self-harm, and 3 percent attempted to commit suicide.
Among the students who considered ending their life, 22 percent were from Italy, followed by 21 percent from Australia, 19 percent from Canada, and 17 percent from Brazil. According to another report by One Voice Canada, a nonprofit organization, there has been an increase in suicide cases among international students in Canada.
At least 70 percent of students in the US, UK, and Canada have reported mental health issues since the pandemic hit. South Korea (39 percent), China (38 percent), Russia (29 percent), and Italy (25 percent) were among the less affected countries. Besides the pandemic-induced stress, 14 percent of students reported incidents of verbal abuse, 5 percent experienced cyberbullying, and 3 percent each stated physical violence and sexual harassment during the pandemic.
The survey also highlighted a silver lining, with 56 percent of students feeling optimistic compared to 26 percent of them feeling pessimistic about the current situation. Hope is around the corner despite the new strains and repeat waves around the virus because the pandemic has made the human race more resilient than ever.
If you are considering studying abroad why don’t you discuss your prospects and opportunities with experts at Lurnable’s dedicated study abroad counselling division LurnPathways?
