Study on the mental well-being of students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study’s primary focus was to find out the mental well-being situation of grade 10 Bangla medium students during the Covid 19 pandemic. Students, parents, and school authorities together are facing a crisis together trying to adapt to the new normal. Students of this particular age group are the most vulnerable and susceptible to change. Mental well-being, in general, in the context of Bangladesh, is hardly prioritized and for children it is more alarming for this issue to not be addressed. This study intends to present the fact that student’s well-being is being affected and needs to be addressed nationally from a systemic perspective. Through in-depth interview and FGD of grade 10 students, it was figured out that students have somewhat understanding of the term well-being and they could clearly differentiate between physical and mental well-being. Isolation, loneliness, and uncertainty of their future are the major factors affecting these students’ well-being. Moreover, this study found that schools lack a proper system to address and manage crisis situations where both adolescents and adults are victims. At home, parents or guardians need to be more vigilant about how their children cope with the crisis.