Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in college students in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic was not merely limited to physical health concerns, and after the pandemic, the mental health consequences of the pandemic are still reverberating within our societies, especially in India. The college students in India were left to grapple with unforeseen circumstances, facing abrupt uncertainties with respect to their education and careers. Although their physical health was relatively more robust, their mental health status was left unexplored.

Aim: To assess depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in college students in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and methods: An observational cross-sectional survey was conducted on 323 undergraduate students from June 2021 to August 2021, who were required to fill a survey form which comprised basic sociodemographic details, student's concerns about COVID-19 and the following scales: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Scale (PANSI) after obtaining written and informed consent from them. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The study revealed that 23.52% of the participants suffered from depressive disorders, and 34.98% from anxiety disorders. Although a statistically higher number of males were depressed as compared to females (33.87% versus 17.08%), it was the opposite for anxiety disorders (47.73% females versus 14.51% males). HADS anxiety score was positively correlated with worrying about family members, COVID-19 infection in family members, fear of contracting the infection, presence of psychiatric illness in family, and history of attempted suicide. HADS depression score was positively correlated with worrying about family, COVID-19 infection in family members, a prior consultation with a mental health professional, and history of attempted suicide. Suicidal ideations as predicted by PANSI Positive score was predicted by rural place of residence, number of family members, and presence of psychiatry patient in the family.

Conclusion: In the following era of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression were high amongst college students. Various COVID-19-related and personal correlates for anxiety and depression as well as predictors for suicidal ideations could also be delineated. Institutions need to find out at-risk students and plan active measures for them.