With many students studying from home online, the stress of a regular school schedule, accompanied by adapting to new technology and not being able to socialize with friends, has placed a new level of stress on students this year. Thanks, COVID-19.

One study from China published in JAMA Pediatrics journal surveyed 2,330 students in the Hubei province of China, where 22.6% of students reported depressive symptoms after being in lockdown for just 33.7 days due to the pandemic.

“We’ve definitely found that a lot of our students are feeling alone at this time, especially now that some of their parents have had to go back to work after the quarantine,” said Breanna McKnight, a teacher mentor at ELEVATE Orlando. “It’s been sad to hear.” 

ELEVATE Orlando is an academic mentorship nonprofit that works with the public school system to offer an elective course where students can get guidance from teacher mentors at certain middle and high schools for at-risk youth in Orlando. 

Many students receive mental health guidance at school. Over 13% of students ages 12-17 received some sort of mental health service in a school setting in 2014, according to data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. From 2012-2015, in adolescents who used any form of mental health services, 57% got their services from a school, according to an article in the JAMA Pediatrics journal. During the pandemic, many students don’t have access to any mental health services because they are not in school face-to-face since the staff is working from home.

“Resources are a big deal for our students as well, and that really bothers them mentally,” ELEVATE Orlando president Sherry Paramore said.

The district gives students their own laptops, but many students, including some from ELEVATE Orlando, don’t have WiFi at home.

“That’s daunting in itself if you have to go through that alone; that’s why I want to congratulate our teacher mentors because they really help walk alongside the students,” Paramore said. “The parents need just as much support because, if they are working, it would be helpful for them to have someone to walk alongside their student.” 

Even face-to-face classes have adapted now, with most children learning online from home more than being on campus.

“Seeing other students on campus, the energy is very, very low,” McKnight said. “It’s like a ghost town.”

Focusing on what comes next is helpful for students to stay on pace, Parramore and McKnight agree. ELEVATE Orlando focuses on getting students on a path after graduating that includes college, trade school, or the military.

“Definitely the motivation has been the toughest thing. A lot of them feel like what’s the point, but there is a point,” McKnight said. “Although this year does look different, it’s still school, it’s still about you, especially with seniors. The goal is still graduation, even though it looks way different.”  

Seeing other students, Paramore notices the difference in students who have a designated person to help guide them through the right path, compared to those who don’t. The program has even gotten an increase in students wanting to join; however, the program is at capacity, Paramore said. But for the students who feel themselves losing motivation or need help during these tough times, Paramore has some advice. 

“I would say find that caring adult who can help walk you through this process and keep you motivated,” Paramore said. “Someone you trust, of course.” 

McKnight suggests for teachers, counselors, and parents to stay consistent in talking with students because sometimes all they need is someone to listen to them.

“Find something creative that you’ve never done before or do something you’ve never done before. Be present,” McKnight said. “No one gets there alone; that’s definitely our motto.”

Even though it’s a difficult time period, there are some positive outcomes for students that McKnight has noticed.  

“They’re more grateful because they can go to school,” McKnight said. “They’re grateful to be in a classroom, and with the seniors especially, a lot of them are really set on what they want to do because they have had a lot of alone time to think about what they want to do after graduation.”