The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the mental health of college students . According to a study by the American Psychological Association , more than half of college students reported feeling anxious or depressed during the pandemic . This is a significant increase from prepandemic levels , when only about one-third of college students reported feeling this way .
The pandemic disrupted the college experience in a number of ways . Students were forced to learn remotely , which made it difficult to build relationships with professors and classmates . They were also isolated from friends and family , which led to feelings of loneliness and social disconnection .
With the help of an award from the Florida Department of Health , Eastern Florida State College created an initiative called Healthy Body Healthy Mind to facilitate an increased mental health response to student needs .
At the heart of the project was the belief that having a healthy mind is key to a student ’ s overall health and well-being — and research has shown that a healthy body plays a key role in mental health . Making time for recreation and creative activities plays an important role in developing the physical and mental resiliency needed to cope with the challenges of being a college student , including academic pressure , social demands , and financial stress .
Additionally , the pandemic created stressors for students such as financial worries , academic challenges , and concerns about their health and the health of their loved ones , which led to feelings of anxiety and depression .
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