Mental Health and well-being after the COVID-19 pandemic: graduate and postgraduate students' crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on various groups, because of the increase in the number of cases, the probability of transmitting the disease to someone close, social distancing, interruption of daily routines, generation of fear and uncertainty became the main stressors in the population in the last three years. Regarding wellbeing and mental health during the pandemic, the World Health Organization (2022) reported a 28% increase in cases of depression, 26% increase in cases of anxiety disorders worldwide during the first year of the pandemic, the highest cases were reported in the areas most affected by the COVID in relation to daily rates of infected people and the reduction of mobility translated into drastic measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Although the pandemic affected unprecedentedly everyone, several studies report that the most affected population groups are women and young people between 20 and 24 years of age.One of the hardest hit sectors was higher education causing the closure and suspension of face-to-face classes in more than 190 countries, affecting 90% of enrolled students, where traditional teaching had to be replaced by digital platforms to deploy distance learning, changing the daily routine of academic staff and students, despite all the challenges of teaching and learning online were successful, with it also grew the need for attention to health and wellness of students (UNESCO, 2020). University students are considered a vulnerable group being the focus of observation in the health personnel due to the increase of anguish and emotional problems that they have been presenting. Several factors indicate the deterioration of mental health in this group, including the transition stage between youth and adulthood, academic demands, anxiety in relation to their future life, social experience and economic pressures can influence their academic development, being considered as a predictor of academic performance and therefore in their mental health.