key: cord-0023333-wnmebx7i authors: Alam, Meredian title: Mental health impact of online learning: A look into university students in Brunei Darussalam date: 2021-11-23 journal: Asian J Psychiatr DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102933 sha: 0eb82aa5f9f1dad706903d3d8bb4b11a5fff2b67 doc_id: 23333 cord_uid: wnmebx7i nan After the first case of Covid-19 was reported in Brunei and subsequent restriction of any gatherings, including schools, there was a need for online classes, especially in institutes of higher learning. The nation's attempt to combat the epidemic included keeping the educational sector functional. Brunei has continued to put measures to control new infections and has a control movement measure known as Operasi Pulih (Recovery Operation), expected to run up to 17th October 2021 (Azahari, 2021) . The operation came about due to increased new infections despite a previous prediction expecting transmission numbers to decrease. As of October 8 2021, the country had about 8262 confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease (World Health Organization, 2020). The country encouraged institutions of higher learning to adopt e-learning as one of the measures suggested by the WHO to curb the spread of coronavirus. COVID-19 brought with it fear and anxiety. Many students were worried about their health and that of their families (OECD, 2020). Schools offer a place of solace where teachers and classmates provide emotional support (Lane-Garon and Richardson, 2003., Panell, 2020) . With social distancing, meeting up with friends and family became nearly impossible, and sharing the anxiety and fears, further straining their mental health (Lippke et al., 2021) . In Brunei, with online studies, the home changed from a place of relaxing to a school. University students found it difficult to change into a new perspective. Students found the homes to be distractive; social media, TV, and other family members were around. Concentrating in the new study environment was hard for them. Some university students in Brunei experienced a change in their sleep patterns. Online studies brought changes in their academic schedules leading to a change in routine. Students find themselves staying up late and waking up anytime, and others got insomnia. The change in sleep pattern affected the quality of sleep resulting in poor physical and mental health. Students all over the world reported physical symptoms such as eye strain and backaches due to having participated in online learning for long hours (Ganne et al., 2021 ., Gupta et al., 2021 . The same is to be implied in Brunei. Staring at the computers for 6 (six) hours, some experienced dry eyes and carpal tunnel syndrome. Zoom being the main mode of e-learning in Brunei, students and lecturers became exposed to a form of mental exhaustion called Zoom Fatigue. Zoom fatigue is a burnout brought about by having long video calls. The video calls take a lot of cognitive weight and emotional strength, leading to exhaustion (Williams, 2021) . Zoom fatigue leads to manifestation or magnification of physical symptoms like vertigo, back pain, and dizziness. The length of the pandemic is unknown and unexpected, creating further anxiety over uncertainty (Jung et al., 2021) . Brunei university students who are isolated for long hours in their rooms experienced cabin fever. A number of them ended up feeling lonely, lacking appetite, low moods, anxious, and low motivation to join the online classes. Consequently, some reported having difficulties in reading and absorbing information from e-lectures. Such students were anxious about their academic performances, and they did not feel like the circumstances allowed for proper concentration in their lectures. This led to students experiencing psychological distress. Online learning is essential in the containment and fights against COVID-19. Mental health issues are unavoidable, and there are no standards set in settling them. The phenomenon is still new, and researchers are working on it. The government of Brunei provided the following social support for the society. The government gave a hotline for mental health support 145 to aid members of the society who feel overwhelmed with mental health issues. Telecounselling, known as Talian Harapan (Hotline for Hopes) enabled students to share their feelings of anxiety and depression with professionals. In Brunei this telecounselling also regularly provides some coping strategies to students during lockdown, for example, by journaling, doing physical exercises and hobbies at home every day, and getting out of the house for fresh air. With this telecounselling service, Brunei government has taken preventive steps in sustaining citizen's mental well-being during lockdown when commuting to psychological and psychiatric clinics is not feasible. The government ensures that psychologists at local health operated Asian Journal of Psychiatry journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ajp as essential workers. Students would walk in and get psychological help for whatever struggles they were facing. The psychologist would offer formal letters for the student to present to their lecturers and take time off from e-learning. Students with severe mental conditions and needed psychiatrists had access to private physicians to get antidepressants and any other form of support that was necessary. Currently, there are no reported cases of suicide or self-harm by students in Brunei. Students at Brunei are coping well with the help of their lecturers, their institutions, and the government. The government has tried to provide and support a nurturing and learning environment for learners at home. Efforts have been put in place to encourage self-care. The Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB) has aired general mental health promotions to help the citizens get guidelines on sustaining their mental health. The media encourages those who work from home to participate in physical activities and social cohesion to avoid loneliness through sharing thoughts and feelings with friends or relatives or journaling. On social media like Instagram, Brunei's social media influencers broadcast on IGTV, and keep the community posted on means to maintain health psychologically. There is no conflict of interest in this work. 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