Mental Health of black university students in times of Covid-19: quantitative-qualitative study

Abstract

The university environment is shaped by social factors and specific challenges faced by minority groups, such as those encountered by Black students. This study aims to map teaching, research, and extension projects involving Black students in health-related undergraduate courses at the Federal Fluminense University and describe the profile of these students. This is an exploratory field research with a quantitative and qualitative methodological approach. Data collection was conducted through a documentary record guide and an online form. Thus, 11 mental health projects were analyzed, and data were collected from 17 Black students in the health field at the Federal Fluminense University. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under report no. 5,289,582. The mapping revealed that there were no teaching, research or extension projects focused on the mental health of black students in the health field. Among the participants, most were women, under 30 years old, single, and entered the university through the socio-racial quota system. Regarding mental health, they reported a need for psychological support and evaluated their mental health self-care as unsatisfactory. It is concluded that there is a lack of academic projects focused on the mental health of Black students in the health field, along with limited scientific production on the subject. The data highlight the need to expand institutional strategies for promoting mental health, considering the multiple vulnerabilities faced by Black students in the university context.

Keywords: COVID-19; Students, Health Occupations; Black or African American; Health Promotion; Mental Health.