Students suffer during pandemic but no rise in serious psychological complaints

Friday, April 2, 2021 — The Vrije Universiteit Brussel took the initiative to personally call all of their students who wanted to be contacted, to give them a boost during the Covid crisis and gauge their well-being. A team of trained psychology master's students had phone conversations with more than 7,100 students. The students reported feeling worse than before the pandemic began, and there is an increase in students with mild psychological complaints, such as feeling gloomy and restless. Professor Imke Baetens: "Fortunately, we do not see an increase in serious psychological complaints that require professional help.' She organised the campaign with Professor Johan Vanderfaeillie. Vanderfaeillie: "Students' subjective well-being is now lower than before the start of the Covid pandemic. Students have experience the past month as a distinctly difficult time in their lives.' Psychological complaints of students called - No psychological complaints: 25% - Very mild complaints, e.g. "I have felt gloomy sometimes in the past 30 days?: 55% - Moderate to severe complaints for which professional help is recommended: 18%. These students were informed about the offer of services such as first-line psychologists.