As COVID-19 continues to spread around the country, college students and their families are facing increased levels of stress and anxiety. Those who have gone back to college campuses have worried for their own health and safety as many have witnessed fellow classmates not following university health guidelines. Uncertainty and feelings of helplessness when it comes to the virus have increased these levels of stress.

Another larger stressor for students and family members is the financial strain of college during a time of economic decline and higher unemployment rates. Many more students are having to now handle being a full time student and helping with family responsibilities. With many school counseling services now having to be offered online, students have to rely on Telehealth services for their mental health needs. While some schools have seen an increase of 32% utilizing the mental health services, some students have stated the challenges of using web conferencing for counseling. 

As the semester continues, students, especially on college campuses, continue to face anxiety and stress about the unknown future of their health and their school’s guidelines. 

Learn more about the current stressors of college students at NBC News.