Analysis of Perceived Mental Stress of College Students after Opening of Educational Institutions Post COVID and Institutional Role in Strengthening Mental Health Arises: A Study of College Students and Faculty Members of Faridabad District

Abstract

When, on 11^th January 2020, COVID-19 declared as pandemic by world health organization, we even could not imagine the situation world had faced. Pandemic emerged as one of the major physiological and psychological health crisis of the decade. It affected the lifestyle of the millions of college going students and faculty members as well. All the teaching, learning and assessment procedures had been replaced by hi-tech educational technologies (e-Technology). Online classes took place of traditional face to face classes, eBooks replaced the paperback books and online assessment took place of pan-paper based assessments. Previous researches suggest, college going students are most vulnerable and sensitive to the mental health problems because apart from the current pandemic they have to face other multiple stressors as well such as academic pressure, assessment and university exam, career prospects, concern about health of self and family members, poor relationship with faculty members.

However, now when colleges in India have reopened again and offline (face to face) classes are being taken by most of the colleges of Faridabad district, it is the prime responsibility of college administrations and faculty members to ensure the prevention of any kind physical (covid infection) and / or psychological (Mental Stress, Anxiety and Depression) damages to the students. The objectives of the current research work are to evaluate the mental health of the college students (Perceived Stress) after reopening of colleges using perceived stress scale and also to identify the strategies being used by colleges to minimize the mental stress and strengthen the mental health of the college students.