A Phenomenological Study of the Mental Health Needs of High School Youth in a Rural Community Post COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe former high school students’ experiences with mental health struggles while in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Texas Public Independent School District. Mental illness increased among youth during the prolonged pandemic period of time and many of the pervasive mental health concerns have not been addressed effectively in the aftermath. As a result, a growing number of concerns pertaining to the mental health wellbeing of K-12 children continues to be on the rise. Thus, it is of utmost importance to learn more about the experiences of our youth and their mental health challenges and what better source than to hear it directly from them. In doing so, we will be taking positive steps in implementing an effective prevention model focused on mental health healing and recovery.