Effects of Contextual Concerns on University Students’ Mental Health in the Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Kenyan Cases

Dr. Hellen Jepchirchir Mettoh
Bomet University College,
Department of Educational Psychology and Educational Foundations
School of Education.
Email: hellenmettoh@gmail.com

Abstract: This conceptual study introduces the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic as a global burden that has disrupted peoples’ quality of life. The Kenyan government confirmed the first case of COVID-19 pandemic on 14th March, 2020, after the novel corona virus disease. One of the containment strategies put in place by the Kenyan government was the suspension of all learning activities and home confinement for all school going children and university students. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of the contextual concerns of covid-19 pandemic on the university students’ mental in Kenya. The review found out that the public health containment measures led to the closure of universities, which resulted to virtual learning, virtual graduation, loss of jobs as some companies shut down, movement to rural areas, lack of supplies, isolation, pornography, concerns on one’s own health and the health of loved ones, eating and sleeping disorders, all study levels and gender, knowledge of infected person, information technology exacerbated the situation of the students, Covid-19 contributed to general poor health and that vulnerable university students may have been worse hit. All these culminated into mental health issues as depression, anxiety, stress, sleep and eating disorder and loneliness. The study recommended that apart from the student counsellors, the universities also ought to engage the services of psychotherapists and psychiatrists where applicable in the fight against mental health related concerns among the students during COVID-19 pandemic.