Public Health & Health Science Division, ULAB

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health issues that we face today, and yet they are often not addressed or treated insufficiently. They can lead to various other mental disorders and even impact physical health. Previous research conducted on this topic focused on the social determinants of mental health as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study aims to determine the impacts that social factors in addition to the pandemic have on individuals’ perceptions of mental health and their decision to seek clinical or personal treatment. A survey sent to students at the University of California, Berkeley was used to gauge the magnitude of anxiety/depression that respondents experienced as a result of their individual experiences with regards to collegiate life and the COVID-19 pandemic. It was found that participants that had doctors who thoroughly explained the effects of medications instilled more trust in their patients, which led to greater compliance with treatment prescriptions and higher satisfaction. The compassion of instructors also played a role in alleviating mental health issues during stressful periods in students’ lives. Overall, there was a wide range of opinions as responses were affected by many individual circumstances.