Mental health assessment of Lebanese pharmacy students after returning to school post-COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The shift from normalcy caused by COVID-19 changed the lives of students globally. This study aims to assess the psychiatric symptoms and identify risk factors contributing to psychological distress in Lebanese pharmacy students after returning to school following COVID-19. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 February to 30 March 2022 among Lebanese pharmacy students in Lebanon. Three validated scales were used to assess the mental health of the participants. Results: Of the total 866 participants, 41.8% had severe/extremely severe anxiety, 30.7% depression, 28.5% had stress, 27.7% had moderate/severe insomnia, and 45.5% had PTSD. Conclusion: This study revealed high levels of psychological distress in Lebanese pharmacy students after returning to school following COVID-19, highlighting the importance for faculty and educators to prioritise students by maintaining open communication and addressing their academic and personal needs. Further studies are warranted to confirm these results and check whether these symptoms are still ongoing.