Staying on campus during MCO a strain on students

RESEARCH in the United Kingdom has found significant depression and significant anxiety have doubled after a Covid-19 lockdown was enforced in the country. A similar situation was also reported in Italy, leading the Italian government to launch a nationwide psychological support programme for those mentally affected by the lockdown. There is already emerging evidence the same thing is happening here. At the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), data have shown a rising trend in students seeking counselling during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. This involved cases of depression and anxiety due to various factors, including living in isolation, not being able to see their families, worry about their families’ well-being, and concern on the impact of the lockdown on their study plans. As the MCO drags on, IIUM continues to provide dedicated counselling exclusively for IIUM students who may need emotional and psychological support. IIUM has also implemented various projects and activities to fill up students’ time and to soften the impact of MCO on the mental health of students, including getting them to volunteer in projects such as producing personal protective equipment for medical officers, developing medical devices for use in combatting Covid-19, online tazkirah and virtual hangouts.....