Improving students mental health and psychological well-being in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The advent of COVID-19 has given rise to fear and stress leading to emotional and psychological problems due to social and physical distancing and economic meltdown. Emotional and psychological problems are likely to be more among people because of breakdown in relationship and human interaction, suppression of emotions and loss of jobs. As such there is increasing rate of discouragement, depression and in some case death. Reading of books could come handy to fill the gaps that distancing from friends and families might have caused. At a time like this, that physical connections are not possible, bibliotherapy becomes an essential tool to assure the students that they are not alone. Bibliotherapy has the ability to improve mental health and psychological well-being through the use of imaginative and self-help books. This paper gives the evidences that use of books as therapy could help to heal the wounds of emotional and psychological problems.