By Olga Rodriguez, Public Policy Institute of California, June 17, 2020
Mental health is the biggest issue students at California community colleges say they are facing during the pandemic. That is, 67% of students report higher levels of anxiety, stress, depression, or other mental distress. The sudden transition to an online learning environment drives some of this stress, as do struggles with job and income loss or paying for housing and utilities. For some students, the loss of income means prioritizing basic needs over school.
Data show that young adults, African Americans, and Latinos are more likely to experience mental health issues that are left untreated than whites and older adults (ages 25–64). COVID-19 and entrenched inequities likely aggravate these concerns, as effects have been especially dire for California’s most vulnerable populations. Because California community colleges (CCC) enroll the highest number of Latino, African American, and low-income students, these institutions play a critical role in supporting mental health for students whose circumstances have changed radically amid the current crisis.
The pandemic has turned virtually every community college student into an online learner, a learning modality that is not particularly effective in supporting student success and equity. Furthermore, students have lost access to critical campus-based resources and supports like the library, computer lab, and academic and student services centers. These facilities offered tutoring, counseling, health, and other specialized services and also included support for populations such as veterans and students with disabilities.
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