Mental health has always been somewhat of a conversation among college students across the country, but this year especially, as students grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like many colleges across the nation, Arizona State University informed its students during spring break that classes would be moved online until further notice. During that time the US was seeing high numbers of COVID-19 and many were left uncertain of what would be next.

Little did many know things only got worse from there, the pandemic did not just affect people health-wise, but in other aspects as well.

People's lives started to change, especially college students, it was hard for them to stay motivated and many of them lost their on-campus jobs which led to mental health issues.

"Being able to go to work and class was the only reason why I enjoyed going to school and it gave me a reason to stay motivated, but now that I do not have a job or able to go to class I have noticed my mental health has suffered significantly," stated Jessalian Warnes a Sophomore at Arizona State University.

Heading into the fall semester ASU announced three different learning options; in-person, ASU Sync, and iCourse. These options let students find a way to attend class to make sure that they were staying safe. But this created a loss in personal connection and ability to create those relationships which are essential when having mental health issues.

"I definitely haven't been seeing friends as often, but I've even become bad about talking to them over a distance. I feel like this pandemic has made a lot of people feel really lonely because as bad as you wanna be there for someone, you know you can't," stated Maggie Masters a Freshman at Arizona State University.

An effort that ASU created to ensure that everyone stayed safe, had caused another issue to come to rising. Typically fall break is a time for students to distress or to catch up on homework, but Professors wanted to push work on students to ensure they learn.

"Having Fall Break being taken away from us was worse than I thought. As of right now, we have only had three days off in the whole semester and it feels like the homework has not stopped. After mid-October, I started to really lose to motivation for everything," Warnes stated

The speedy semester has led there to be an increase in anxiety and a lack of motivation in students.

"Having no real breaks and professors adding more work each week has made my depression come to the surface," Warnes stated.

Depression is the leading cause of mental health issues in Arizona in young adults having 45% feeling depressed ranging from the ages of 18 to 39 according to the Daily Independent.

Students are hopeful that ASU will offer a more engaging way to learn while providing time for students to put their mental health as a priority.