BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Western Kentucky University offered guidance for students who are victims of mental and physical illnesses in wake of rising depression, anxiety and the new COVID-19 variant.
“We are following the CDC guidelines in terms of treatment; we’re doing the five days of isolation, and after isolation and we’re doing the five days of wearing a mask in public after isolation,” Dr. Noma Moyo-Peters, a family medicine physician at WKU Health Services, said.
Moyo-Peters also laid out common symptoms of the new coronavirus variant she’s seen.
“We saw a lot of cases, especially last week,” Moyo-Peters said. “The main symptoms are allergy-type symptoms. Patients will come in and say, ‘Well, I’ve got a little bit of a body ache.’ And that’s when we’ll get them tested and they’re positive.”
If a student tests positive, the WKU Health Services team will note what medications they should take, and if they need to seek care for a second time.
The Kentucky Departmen of Public Health reported over 5,500 new cases of cornonavirus, noting a significant increase of infections for those between the ages of 18 to 29 years old.
A climb of coronavirus cases has correlated to a spike of anxiety and depression.
According to a 2021 study from the Healthy Minds Network, around 60% of college students reported one or more mental health challenges in 2021.
According to the National College Health Assessment, 73% of college students have been subjected to severe or moderate psychological distress. This is a 50% increase from 2013 statistics.
As a result, WKU Health Services is eager to help those who are impacted on any level.
“We will start them on medication but if they prefer not to, we will send them to counseling,” Moyo-Peters said. “Counseling, therapy or medication can help you get to a point where you are not debilitated and you can live a normal life. So, if you do notice certain symptoms, you need to reach out.”
The Health Service Center is open on Monday through Friday; they can be contacted at 270-745-2273.
