The Mental and Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on University Faculty and Students

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March, 2020 has disrupted teaching and learning and has brought about mental, social and psychological challenges for university faculty and students not only in Africa but worldwide. The closure of face-to-face teaching and learning in academic institutions has meant that millions of students and faculty have had to indefinitely stay, learn and work from home. Having to adopt an emergency migration to full online courses following the governments' directive to close campuses, many of the universities in Africa were ill prepared in terms of infrastructure, online skills on the part of faculty and students, appropriate devices, internet connectivity and in many cases electricity and power connectivity. These and the measures taken to limit the spread the COVID-19 has led to many mental and psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, feelings of confusion, anger, fear and substance misuse. A review of articles from journals and advisories in addition to the experience working in USIU Africa was used to reflect on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial wellbeing of faculty and students and the interventions universities have in place to address mental health issues during the COVID-19 period and beyond. The findings showed that faculty and students are vulnerable to the physical, mental and psychosocial effects of COVID-19 and recommends; awareness creation on the mental and psychosocial effects of COVID-19, embracing of change, training the mental health service providers, developing a culture where people seek mental health services and universities being inclusive, responsive and student friendly as they work towards resilience in the new normal. [End Page 73]