Introduction

Background of the study

The education system has recently been shaken by an unexpected health crisis, which has

shattered its foundation. As a result, governments all around the world have initiated a rapid

response to mitigate the pandemic's negative impact on education. Curriculum adjustments,

supply of technical resources and infrastructure, shifts in the academic calendar, and rules on

instructional delivery and assessment are all examples of this approach. These advancements

pushed educational institutions to go to complete online learning until face-to-face instruction

was permitted.

To ensure learning continuity in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd)

has implemented distance learning modes that include technology and an internet connection.

Many colleges and universities have implemented flexible learning methods under the

Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Significant changes in the learning environment

during and after the epidemic are taken into account in such systems. Students can choose from

three different learning modes such as online which uses available online classrooms to offer

instruction, offline which uses printed modules or digital media stored on storage devices, and

blended, which mixes online and offline modes.

But even so, previous research and articles have shown that struggles and hindrances are

existent as educational systems continue to enforce these learning modalities, especially online

learning. According to the study of Rotas and Cahapay (2020), they revealed 12 themes that
cover up difficulties in online learning such as unstable internet connectivity, inadequate learning

resources, electric power interruptions, vague learning contents, overloaded lesson activities,

limited teacher scaffolds, poor peer communication, conflict with home responsibilities, poor

learning environment, financial related problems, physical health compromises, and mental

health struggles. Abadilla (2022) also highlighted the huge toll on students' mental health,

particularly those from low-income families, who were more concerned about fees, gadgets,

internet stability, and future employment prospects than their more affluent peers.

The sensation of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure

is also known as stress. Due to lack of spare time, students with hectic schedules might rapidly

become overwhelmed. The amount and difficulty of schoolwork rises as we advance from

elementary to high school, and students who lack effective time management skills may face

even more stress. According to research, academic stress has been linked to worse well-being

and a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, kids that are under academic stress

have a lower academic performance. Secondary and tertiary students are subjected to a variety of

persistent pressures related to academic responsibilities. Academic-related stress has been shown

in the past to lower academic achievement, diminish motivation, and raise the likelihood of

dropping out of school.

Students' mental health can impede learning. Given the increased reports of mental health

concerns among senior high school students, it is critical that we understand how best to assist

such a population in addition to learning and performing effectively.

Theoretical Framework

According to McLeod (2020), Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a

theory of learning which states all behaviors are learned through interaction with the

environment through a process called conditioning. Thus, behavior is simply a response to

environmental stimuli. Behaviorism is only concerned with observable stimulus-response

behaviors, as they can be studied in a systematic and observable manner.

Psychological behaviorism is the view that psychology should study the behavior of

individual organisms. Psychology should be defined not as the study of the mind and internal

mental processes via introspection, but as the science of behavior. The most famous proponents

of psychological behaviorism were John Watson and B. F. Skinner (1904–1990). Other notable

behaviorists were Edwin Guthrie (1886–1959), Edward Tolman (1886–1959), Clark Hull (1884–

1952), and Kenneth Spence (1907–1967). Behaviorism is only concerned with observable

stimulus-response behaviors, as they can be studied in a systematic and observable manner

(“Behaviorism”, 2018).

Jacofsky et al. (n.d.) stated that anxiety can be learned through a type of learning called

classical conditioning. This occurs via a process called paired association. Paired association

refers to the pairing of anxiety symptoms with a neutral stimulus. A neutral stimulus can be any

situation, event, or object that is does not ordinarily elicit a fearful response. A scientist in the

1920's, named John B. Watson, demonstrated this with his famous "Little Albert" experiment.

Watson demonstrated that humans can learn to be afraid of neutral objects through the process of

classical conditioning. Watson and his assistant, Rosalie Rayner, presented Little Albert (an 11-

month-old baby) with a white rat. Initially, Albert was not afraid of the rat. In fact, he reached

out to touch it. Then they struck a steel bar right behind Albert every time they presented him
with the rat. The loud noise frightened Albert and he began to cry. A week later, they presented

Albert the rat alone, and he attempted to stay away from it. Watson and Rayner later

demonstrated that Albert also reacted the same way to similar, white, furry objects (a fur coat, a

rabbit, and a Santa Claus mask). Thus, the fear had generalized to other similar objects.

Statement of the Problem

This qualitative research aims to investigate students' mental health in this new education

system and how does mental health affect their everyday lives. Due to this new learning system

students' needs to adjust into a new learning method. Upon adjusting, students' mental health

may also be affected.

This study aims to explore their experiences in coping with stress or mental disorders

such as depression and anxiety

This study aims to answer this question:

1. In what ways did this new learning system affect the student's mental health?

2. How do they describe their mental health coping mechanism in today’s online modality?

3.What are the experiences of senior high school students in managing their mental health?

Significance of the study

The results of this study is beneficial to each of the following :

School

This study can give awareness to the school on what are the students feel and go through,

this study can give awareness on how could they handle and help the students

Parents

This study can give awareness to the parents on how can they help their children and how

can they understand their children, especially to those students who are not vocal or open to their

parents

Students with anxiety

This study will be beneficial to the students dealing with anxiety because by this study

we could be able to identify the causes and effects and by that, we can identify the solution to

decrease the number of students who are having anxiety

Scope and limitations