Uncovering the Mental Health Issues of Grade 11 Students while in Online Distance Learning

Abstract

One of the common issues our country faces right now is the mental health stability of the people, specifically the students. It is salient to pay attention to students' mental health so that people will be aware of the reality regarding the situation of students during this new setup. 

Many people underestimate what students experience, such as stress, breakdown, anxiety, and depression. With the help of this research, it will give understanding to individuals that the students are experiencing such circumstances. Through the use of purposive sampling, the researchers have selected a total of six (6) informants. The population of this study involved five (5) Grade 11 students and one (1) Grade 11 adviser in St. Mary’s College, Quezon City, in the School year 2021-2022. The perceived triggers of mental health issues in the online learning setup among students are heavy workloads and deadlines, loss of physical and social interactions, internet instability, the learning environment, and the country's current situation.

It was also found that online distance learning has made the students more responsible and organized in their work, but they are still getting used to it in the second year of online learning. Informants also mentioned feeling mentally and physically exhausted and anxious due to the sudden change in the educational environment.

The school provided support through the different CLDC webinars and OIG activities. But despite the said activities, some also stated that these might need to be more helpful as many hide their true feelings. Based on this study's findings, many factors affect students in the online modality that can lead to mental health issues that deserve attention from the parents, teachers, and administrators.