The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of matric learners

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of matric learners, particularly in South Africa. The rapid spread of Covid-19 resulted in the South African government instituting a nationwide lockdown from the 27th of March 2020. Reports have stated that learners have experienced heightened levels of anxiety during the pandemic. A descriptive qualitative case study was used for this research. Five matric students were interviewed to gain insight into their lockdown experiences. Newspaper clippings reporting matric learner’s experiences during this period were also collected from the GCIS database for further analysis. Moreover, inductive thematic analysis was done allowing for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of patterns from the collected data. The findings from this research provided an understanding of the lasting mental impacts of Covid-19 as well as the many positive experiences reported by the matric learners. The findings show that isolation and lack of human contact increased anxiety, which had a major impact on the student’s mental health. Returning to school during the pandemic revealed a mixture of emotions expressed by the learners- from fear and anxiety to excitement. The change in daily routine was also noted to be one of the most difficult adaptations that the learners experienced during the pandemic, which resulted in increased distress. In addition, data reported that the Covid-19 pandemic was tackled by the 2020 matric learners through growth and development of mental and emotional capabilities. Thus, the Covid-19 pandemic has been a resilience enabler for most learners as they feel hopeful to face future adversities.