Depression, Anxiety and Stress among College Faculties during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Page: 470-473
Pradeepkumar P. C.,1 Sojan Antony,2 Thomas Gregor Issac,3 and Thirumoorthy4 (Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka1,2,4, Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka3)

The COVID 19 lockdown has triggered governmental lockdowns, has affected the various sector severely, and its impact on mental health is inadequately understood. COVID 19 has created unprecedented challenges in the academic sector. College faculties faced extraordinarily demands from institutions and increased their responsibilities caused severe psychological burden. The cross-sectional descriptive research design was used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress levels among college faculties. The study involved 76 faculties who participated in the ‘social connectedness and inspiration’ faculty development program sponsored by AICTE. Demographic data sheet and depressional, anxiety and stress (DASS) instruments were used to collect the data. The current showed mean age of male (N = 39 m = 37.49 SD = 6.4) and female participants (N= 37, m = 37.97 SD = 9.3) years, majority participants represented Karnataka (19.74%) Tamil Nādu (15.79%) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (14.77%) and Uttarakhand (13.16%) and 71.1% of the participants were post-graduation holders, and 81.6% worked as assistant professors. More than half of the faculties were affected with mild to severe depression and anxiety, and a significant difference was found between gender and depression (p = 0.023) designation and anxiety (p = 0.009). The research findings indicate that more than half of the participants affected with depression and anxiety need special attention due to their higher psychological burden. Primary preventive strategies like provision of anxiety relieving workshops, team activity and life skill training, Yoga and relaxation activity trainings can promote mental health among faculties