CHAPTER II

RELATED READING
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of students and exacerbated the
prevalence of anxiety among them. The purpose of the literature reviews was to consilidate
evidence for the prevalence of anxiety among students of higher education during the COVID-
19 pandemic and to underscore the effect of various pandemic-related factors on this anxiety.

RELATED LITERATURE
LOCAL

According to PNA, Concerns about potential increases in mental health conditions had already
prompted 90 percent of countries surveyed to include mental health and psychosocial support
in their COVID-19 response plans, but significant gaps remain. A major explanation for the
increase is the unprecented stress caused by social isolation resulting from the pandemic.
Linked to this were constraints on people’s ability to work, seek support from loved ones and
engage in their communities. The information released came from a comprehensive review of
existing evidence about the impact of Covid-19 on mental health and mental health services.
“Loneliness, fear of infection, suffering and death for oneself anf for loved ones, grief after
bereavement and financial worries have also all been cited as stressors leading to anxiety and
depression,’’ according to WHO. Exhaustion has been a significant trigger for suicidal thingking
among health workers, it said.

WHO said data suggests that people with pre-existing mental disorders do not appear to be
disproportionately vulnerable to the Covid-19 infecrtion. Yet, it added when these people
become infected, they are more likely to suffer hospitalization, severe illness, and death than
people without mental disorders. The data found that people with more severe mental
disorders, such as psychoses, and young people with mental disorders are particularly at risk.
RELATED STUDIES
Based on the researcher, disruptions and consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic,
including school closures, social isolation, family economic hardship, family loss or illness, and
reduced access to health care, raise concerns about their effects on the mental health and well-
being of youths. This report uses data from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences
Survey, an online survey of a probability-bases, nationally representative sample of Philippine
public and private-school students in grade 9-12 to assess philippine high school student’s
mental health and suicidality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also examines whether
mental health and suicidality are associated with feeling close to persons at school and being
virtually connected to others during the pandemic. Overall, 37.1% of students experienced poor
mental health during the preceding 30 days. In addition, during the 12 months before the
survey, 44.2% experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 19.9% had seriously
considered attempting suicide, and 9.0% had attempted suicide. Compared with those who did
not feel close to persons at school, students who felt close to persons at school had a
significantly lower prevalence of poor mental health during the pandemic (28.4% versus 45.2%)
and during the past 30 days (23.5% versus 37.8%), persistent feelings of sadness or
hopelessness (35.4% versus 52.9%), having seriously considered attempting suicide (14.0%
versus 25.6%), and having attempted suicide (5.8% versus 11.9%). The same pattern was
observed among students who were virtually connected to others during the pandemic (ie, with
family, friends, or other groups by using a computer, telephone, or other device) versus those
who were not. Comprehensive strategies that improve feelings of connectedness with others in
the famiuly, in the community, and at school might foster improved mental health among
youths during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Philippine News Agency, (2022 March, 3) Pandemic triggers 25% rise in global prevelanse of
anxiety: WHO , GOV.PH. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168954.

Jehi, T., Khan, R., Dos Santos, H. Et al. Effect of COVID -19 outbreak on anxiety
among students of higher education; A review of literature. Curr Psychol (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02587-6.

Published 07 January 2022