COVID-19 Takes a Toll on University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Students’ Mental Health and Academic Performance

After investigating with senior counselor Laura L. Pagel at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Student Health and Wellness Center, it appears that prolonged quarantine measures and a lack of communication with the wider community have taken a toll on a significant portion of UWM students.

Many students have reported experiencing an increase in symptoms of anxiety, including anxiety attacks, stress, and depression. They have also seen a decline in their academic performance.

Recently, during the coronavirus pandemic, the mental and psychological impact of COVID-19 has become apparent among university students. COVID-19 has led to chronic anxiety and stress, particularly among students, with mental health being identified as the top health issue in Milwaukee County, where one in four adults has a mental health condition, according to MKE Elevate, the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

As the pandemic continues, universities have had to adapt to distance education and reduce in-person social interaction. While these measures have helped limit the spread of the virus, they have also had a negative impact on academic performance during the pandemic. Additionally, the pandemic has caused an increased demand for mental health services on campus. Currently, the university is offering both in-person and online therapy sessions to meet this demand.

Many universities, including this one, are struggling to meet the demand due to being understaffed, according to a statement from Pagel. Furthermore, there are significant barriers to accessing mental health services, including cost, long waiting lists, and a lack of knowledge about available resources. As universities continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, addressing these mental health concerns will be critical for the well-being of students.

The findings reveal the adverse effects that pandemic-related restrictions can have on students’ mental health and academic progress. The investigation emphasizes the need for educational institutions and policymakers to prioritize providing mental health support and resources to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on students’ well-being and academic success.

Pagel notes that with the shift to online classes, many students have become frustrated and exhausted due to their inability to fully absorb the study materials because of the limited capabilities and methods of delivering information to students. Additionally, the impact of social isolation has led to a decrease in their grades.

The university offers various mental health programs, including Let’s Talk, Counseling Services at the Student Health and Wellness Center, The UWM Psychology Clinic, UW Mental Health Support, and Mantra Health service, which students can contact immediately if they need to be seen more quickly.

According to Pagel, the university has seen an increase in students’ use of mental health services, which has put pressure on the existing staff due to their small number.

“We’re consistently busy and understaffed, so we always need more staff. We regularly have people leaving, and we hire new employees. We do our best to fill those roles,” said senior counselor Laura L. Pagel.

The Mental Health Care Center continually sends resources via email, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was no opportunity to hand them out in person.

In the Mental Health Care Center, different physicians on staff partner with various centers, such as the LGBT Resource Center, Women’s Resource Center, Black Student Union, Center for International Education, etc. They collaborate with these different departments.

The university is also raising awareness of the importance of mental health. There are various guiding regulations and signs, as well as employees who advise and guide students to go to a mental health care center to reduce the great impact of the pandemic on students and its consequences.

“This morning, a student was struggling in class, and the professor gave him our contact information to let him know about the services we offer here. That’s another thing staff around campus can do to help connect students to resources,” Pagel said.

The university practices a short-term therapy model for about a semester but cannot provide long-term care. Students who need ongoing care are referred to off-campus community resources.

“I suffered from severe depression and frequent panic attacks that lasted for a long time, but when I went to the mental health care center, I didn’t find it useful because they asked me to seek external care services. It was a difficult period because I couldn’t afford the treatment costs as a student,” said Buthaina Al-Kindi, a senior at UWM.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on students’ mental health, which extends beyond the pandemic. Distance learning has limited interaction with teachers and reduced access to mental health resources due to staff shortages.

“The pandemic made studying much more difficult for me, and I suffered from depression due to adapting to distance learning and getting low grades, which made me constantly stressed and nervous,” said Dalia Al-Ajmi, a UWM student.