Mental health is often understood as a concept related to mental disorders.

However, mental

health can be defined from a more general point of view that also comprises a positive

dimension of the concept (World Health Organization, 2003). In this report mental health will

be defined as “a state of well-‐being whereby individuals recognize their abilities, are able to

cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a

contribution to their communities.” (WHO, 2003,

p. 7). The concept mental health can be applied to the ability of an individual to develop

themselves, to deal with the circumstances of life and participate in society by making their

own contribution to it (WHO, 2013). Additionally, mental health is an important concept

included in the definition of health presented by the World Health Organization (2014) as “a

state of complete physical, mental and social well-‐being and not merely the absence of

disease or infirmity”.

Mental illness refers to all mental disorders that can be diagnosed and “feature abnormalities

in cognition, emotion or mood, and the highest integrative aspects of human behavior, such

as social interactions” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001, p. 6). Mental

health and mental illness can be understood as two linked concepts that constitute two sides

of a spectrum. All conditions in between mental health and mental illness can be defined as

mental health problems and will compose the scope of this study.

Depression is one of the most common psychological problems affecting almost everyone,

from all walks of life, people throughout the entire world; it can be personal or within the

members of the family. As it affects people of all ages, genders, and background, no one is

indispensable but most of them are teens. Depression can intervene with normal daily routine

which may lead to problems with work, social and family adjustment. A person with serious

depression can destroy his or her own family life. It may be recognized as a condition that
generally comes and goes at a certain point of life driven by genetic, biological factors, and

other types such as response to major life events.

 According to the World Health Organization and Ministry of Health, Nutrition and

Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka people who are depressed commonly experiences any of the

following: energy loss, a change in eating habits, unhealthy sleeping routine, anxiety, lack of

focus, hesitant, exhausted, feelings unworthy, guilt, or despondent and self-destruction or

suicidal.

According to Senator Hontiveros, one out of five adult Filipinos are suffering from mental or

psychiatric disorder. An average of 88 reported cases of mental illness per 100,000 Filipinos.

From 1992 to 2012, a number of suicide cases in the country has steadily risen over a period

of 20 years.

On other hand, National Statistics Office (NSO) emphasized that mental illness is the third

most common morbidity for Filipinos. It was also stated by the NSO that the third most

common forms of morbidity for Filipinos is mental illness. It showed that in every 100,000

Filipinos, there are 88 cases of mental health problems. 1.4 million People with identified

disabilities showed that mental disability accounts for 14 percent of disabilities according to a

2010 National Consensus. According to the latest numbers from the new Philippine Health

Information System on Mental Health’s survey (PHIS-MH), forty-two (42) percent of

Filipinos, were affected by schizophrenia, the top mental health problem in the Philippines

and most of the affected were male. From May 2014 to May 2016, a number of 2,562 patients

in four participating public and private hospitals were included in the survey. Another

creeping problem in the Philippines is suicide. In 2012, among 2,558 Filipinos who

committed suicide, 2009 were male victims.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), numbers of suicide cases especially in

a Catholic country could simply be lesser than the actual number of cases since some of them

are under-reported.

 It is also very alarming that many of the students are suffering from depression and some are

caught attempting suicide by slashing their wrists, taking over doze of drugs, and others. 

Worldwide, lives are stressed and strained by COVID-19. Nowhere is that more evident than

in the lives of students, staff and faculty members engaged in the transformed role of online

learning.

As higher education adapts to teaching and learning at a distance, the workload, and the

learning load of adopting a new delivery mode is taking a huge toll on the lives of those in

higher education. This is an immense problem that is growing rapidly. While there are some

students who are thriving through online learning, the toll of the virus, isolation, increased

workloads, and other associated effects are rising among many students, staff, and faculty

members. It must not be underestimated. Every institution must address these challenges that

threaten the well-being of their constituents.

Faculty members are feeling the huge stress of remaking their classes into effective digital

forms. The additional workload and concomitant anxiety are heaped upon the already

multifaceted responsibilities of faculty. The added load has heightened the concerns over

faculty burnout. So many faculty members who already live on the edge of burnout in

meeting the teaching, advising, research and publication expectations are facing an emotional

letdown or even collapse.

Too often we separate the consideration of mental health from physical health. These two are

deeply interrelated. The mental and emotional pressures faculty and students may be

experiencing can be expressed in deteriorated physical health. Anxiety and stress can lower

immunity, subjecting people to illness, and not just the common cold. People with high levels

of self-reported distress are found to be 32 percent more likely to die of cancer; depression

has been associated with heart disease. These are not trivial effects. They are life altering and

destructive.

Most students are feeling the strain. For many, that strain begins with the eyes. Those

unaccustomed to squinting at poorly adjusted computer screens in suboptimum ambient

lighting are subjected to eyestrain that can have lasting effects. Ophthalmologists recommend

taking breaks from screen reading every 20 minutes and adjusting room lighting to avoid

glare and reflections.

Supporting the mental health needs of online students is a critical mission for each university.

The radical change in lifestyle can feed loneliness, anxiety and even lead to depression.

Faculty members are now at the front line of responsibility for identifying emotional and

mental health issues. No one else is monitoring the students in most cases. On campus, those

students may be observed by classmates, resident advisers and other campus staff who

observe students informally every day. But, online, those students often are not seen by

fellow students, advisers, or others. They are living in unobserved anonymity. Faculty are

often the primary direct contact with online students. A number of key indicators of possible

concern are identified in this article by Jennifer Patterson Lorenzetti, which cites important

research by Bonny Barr of Creighton University.

The COVID-19 crisis is taking a heavy toll, much of which has not been recorded. But, early

on, it is clear that the stresses are disproportionately placed on the shoulders of women. The

international aid organization CARE conducted a study of indirect impacts of the crisis

among more than 10,000 men and women:

References:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/

EJ1154566.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj5m_fcm63vAhWWUt4KHTSRDTIQFjACegQIExAC&usg

=AOvVaw25TNtOiOotwAxggEy9sgqn&cshid=1615637741006

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

344376133_LEVEL_OF_DEPRESSION_AMONG_SELECTED_SENIOR_HIGH_SCHOO

L_STUDENTS_IN_A_STATE_UNIVERSITY_IN_STA_MESA_MANILA/link/

5f6db88ba6fdcc00863a7b61/download

https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/blogs/online-trending-now/wellness-and-

mental-health-2020-online-learning