The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of students:

Bangladesh perspective
The Covid-19 pandemic has attributed a significant impact not only on physical health but also
on mental health of students.
The first three cases of coronavirus disease in Bangladesh were detected on 8 March 2020. Like
other countries, to reduce the transmission of this virus, the government of Bangladesh has
followed lockdown strategy since March. All educational institutions have been closed also as an
elementary measure to prevent the virus from 17 March 2020. This lockdown affects the mental
health of students to a great extent. At first, the closure of the educational institutions seemed to
be a vacation to the students but as time passes and the condition becomes severe, they fall into
deep uncertainty. The lockdown disrupts their daily routine, discipline and daily structure.
Students are experiencing an extended period of physical apartness from their friends, teachers,
neighbors, relatives and so on. Depression, anxiety, loneliness, distress are rising widely among
them because of this long term isolation.
School going children are more fun-loving. Besides studying in school, they like to engage in
many extracurricular activities with their peers. They are not able to play outdoor games and not
able to engage in the in-person school activities due to the lockdown. They have been suffering
from loneliness which hinders their mental development. It is difficult for most of the parents to
give proper psychological counseling to their child.
This pandemic accounts for a severe shrink in economic activities. As a result, people of lower
and middle income classes have been experiencing a vulnerable drop in income. Most of the
families are facing an economic crisis in this situation. This crisis changes the behavior of
parents which in turn hampers the mental health of their children. On 10 April 2020, a girl aged
10 years from Sirajganj committed suicide because she was scolded by her father for asking for
food. Her father has a small loom factory which was closed in the lockdown. According to the
report of Child Helpline “1098”, almost 70 suicidal adolescents, mostly girls received
psychosocial counselling from the Child Helpline “1098” from April to August 2020.
An alarming rise in poverty and unemployment pushes up the number of child marriages in this
crucial moment. Undoubtedly, child marriage, early pregnancies and multiple responsibilities are
the cause of threat to both physical and mental health of a girl.
University Students are not able to sit for their final examination and feel uncertainty and anxiety
about their future because of this long-term closure of educational institutions. Although the
government tries to introduce online or virtual learning programs to continue the study, students
lived in rural areas are not able to cope with this learning procedure for the lack of adequate
internet connectivity and access to required devices such as computers, smartphones, etc. This
incapability leads to an extra emotional burden on them. Many university students conducted
home tutoring jobs to financially support themselves and their families that could be lost as a
result of the closure of educational institutions. Financial crisis of the family, relationship crisis,
lack of personal space at home, fear of infection may lead to an extensive grow up of
hopelessness, frustration, anxiety, annoyance, anger, nervousness among students. These feelings
in turn may lead to a change in their eating habits, sleeping habits, increase negative thoughts
about the future and even increase suicidal thoughts. Personal conflict with family members,
addiction to the internet, treachery in virtual relationships, cybercrimes are also growing widely
because of commotion.
A recent study, entitled “The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of University
Student: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh” revealed that out of 544 respondents, about
78% of the students were persecuted by mental disorder in the Covid-19 pandemic. The study
also found that female students were at higher risk of developing mental illness than male
students.

Some proactive measures should be taken in order to support the mental health of students
during this pandemic. In fact, students can help themselves by connecting through conversation
and by sharing their thoughts with their friends. A secure family environment is indispensable
for children’s mental development which can be provided by their parents. Government and
other concerned authorities can introduce mental health literacy programs through media for the
development of the mental health of students.
Written By:
Mahinur Begum Mimi
An Undergraduate Student of the Department of Economics
Noakhali Science and Technology University