Covid 19 and college student: 5 reasons they need counseling with Empower Counseling in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Covid has left it’s mark on everyone, but possibly no more on any other group than college students. 

Here 5 reasons why college students need counseling now more than ever:

1. Students Feel Lost:

What college students need most is connection with other college students. Covid made this nearly impossible.

Freshman felt especially lost and lonely. Six out of ten freshman stated they did not feel prepared for college because of pandemic closures at the end of high school. With quarantining, not being able to gather with friends, and virtual learning there was a complete lack of connection with other students. Freshman can normally gather in dorms rooms, meet tons of other students during rush, and enjoy gathering at sporting events. In 2020 and early 2021, none of these were possibilities. This left freshman isolating in rooms, feeling alone and disappointed. If isolated too long, it is likely that the student will become depressed. 

2. Grades are suffering:

Most students found remote learning extremely difficult, 8 in 10 in fact. If a student cannot focus, then he or she will not learn very much. Typically lectures still lasted the entire normal class period which is not suggested for online learning. 

When students are unable to focus and do not learn as much, of course grades will suffer.

Lower grades, especially much lower grades than experienced in high school, can hurt a student’s self-esteem. If a student is already lonely, a hit to the self-esteem, could send the student into depression or anxiety. 

3. Students are doing things they don’t normally do, like cheating.

Students report cheating has been much more prevalent with online or remote learning. Students are doing what they can to survive and keep up their GPA’s. However if a student goes against what he or she values to cheat, the guilt involved can be troublesome to their mental health and wellbeing. 

4. The uncertainty of when the pandemic will be over has caused college students more stress and anxiety than usual.

71% of college students report increased stress and anxiety due to Covid-19.

Our brains do not like uncertainty. Our brains love to have plans and know exactly what to expect. Uncertainty causes anxiety, leaving students with certain questions playing on loops in their minds….When will this be over?….When will everything go back to normal?…Will everything ever go back to normal?

5. Reasons for counseling with empower counseling: The pandemic brought many additional stressors to college students. 

Besides remote learning and falling grades, college students were worried about their own health and the health of family members. 

47% of those students sheltering in place during Covid-19 reported negative mental health effects from stress and worry. 

The number of students suffering from anxiety and depression has increased considerably due to all of the above. 

If you are worried about the mental health of your college student, call Empower Counseling in Birmingham, Alabama. Kathryn Ely, advance trained in Acceptance Commitment Therapy, offers online and in-person therapy for college students in the state of Alabama, whether you attend Samford, Birmingham-Southern, Auburn, Alabama, or any of the higher learning institutions. 205-730-6570.

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