The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of dental students at an Australian school

Aims The dentistry program is extremely demanding mentally and physically. Consequently, it can induce high levels of stress, anxiety and depression in students. There is some research in measuring these ramifications on dental students, but they lack the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought about many fundamental changes to the curriculum of dental students. The aim of this study was to assess dental students' mental health through the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) during the COVID-19 pandemic in an Australian dental School. Methods The Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) students enrolled in years 2-5 were requested to complete an online questionnaire that included the DASS-21 and additional questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on quality of life. Jamovi was utilized to conduct descriptive data analysis. Results179 students completed the survey with 81 males (45%) and 98 females (55%). 70.4% of the participants described elevated anxiety for the health of their loved ones and themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall mean DASS-21 scores were 7.1 (5.07) in depression, 4.9 (4.00) in anxiety and 6.5 (4.32) in stress. Conclusions The results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of dental students. While further research is still required, it is important for universities to recognize how this pandemic affected the mental wellbeing of students so that they can implement appropriate support programs and improve dental education. Clinical relevance The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on social and mental health worldwide, and dental students are notably affected. Recognized as a psychological risk factor, COVID-19 has been linked to an increased rate of suicidal deaths. This paper underlines the importance of recognizing the full scope of the pandemic's impact on dental students, including their views and the potential effects on their physical and mental health. The study indicates a pressing need for more robust support from the organizations to improve the mental health and overall well-being of dental students.