Zoom and Gloom

How online school affected student mental health

Audrey Branding Staff Writer Online school during a pandemic can have Council for Online Education, people with high levels many advantages and disadvantages. One of those of self reported distress are 32% more likely to die disadvantages is mental health. from cancer. Similarly, depression has been associated Mental health is a very important part in life. with heart disease. This shows that mental health has When someone’s mental health is better they sleep long lasting and life threatening effects on a person’s easier, get better grades, and their overall well being is mental and physical health. better than someone with worse mental health. Many Lindbergh students have experienced According to the Tanner Clinic, mental health firsthand the impact of online school on mental has a direct impact on physical health. Bad mental health. health can cause sleep deprivation, addictions, “With online school, it has affected my mental bad grades, anxiety, depression, and a feeling of health in a bad way by causing unhealthy habits to uselessness. According to the CDC, bad mental health occur. This has also increased my stress and anxiety has caused during COVID-19 has caused an increase in levels with the amount of work I’m receiving and the addictions to alcohol, tobacco and other substances. lack of motivation I contain.” Maddie Heine (10) said. Many students have reported feeling like Lindbergh’s staff, including Linda Huynh their mental health has declined due to the unique (School Nurse) have noticed these effects as well. circumstances of the COVID pandemic, with 71% “The COVID pandemic has caused an increase of college students surveyed by in mental health illnesses among researchers at Texas A&M University reporting increased levels of stress and anxiety since the pandemic “The COVID pandemic has caused an increase in the general population at Lindbergh High School. There is an increase in anxieties as scientists try to figure began. Some experts believe this mental health illnesses... out how to control the spread of is partially due to the change in at Lindbergh High the virus and research effective classrooms and learning methods. School,” treatments. It has impacted social According to the CDC, COVID-19 has caused an increase in stress, ~ Linda Huynh, School Nurse ~ interactions; social distancing and not being able to see a smile behind anger, worsening mental health a mask have contributed to more conditions, and difficulty concentrating. depression,” Huynh said. “Students are not used to learning in isolation. On February 9th, Lindbergh decided to switch In classrooms today, teachers have students learning students that are not enrolled in ARC to Phase 1. This in groups, discussing lessons, and asking their peers means that all high school students now attend infor help,” Beth Doll, a professor of psychology person school Tuesday through Friday of each week. in education at the University of Nebraska, said Some students are hopeful that this new schedule will in an interview with the American Psychological improve their mental health and schoolwork. Association. “In-person social interaction is a necessity for “We’ll probably see some socialization delays people of all ages, especially teenagers. Unfortunately, because [students] have not had the chance to practice COVID-19 put a halt to that, but Phase 1 will these skills in a Zoom environment,” Doll said. hopefully be the start of reversing that, and becoming There will be other long-lasting effects of closer to the way school was before,” Lilly Naeger (10) isolation, too. According to a study done by the said. University of Buffalo, 75 percent of students have Mollie Koetting (9) agrees. reported feeling more anxious and stressed due to “School feels very optional because we are online learning. This decline in mental health may at home and that’s not because we aren’t good cause many issues for students in the students.... I hope that [Phase 1] will help restore 4 News March future. According to the National our mental health and bring new things our way,” Koetting said.