Be Mindful of Students’ Mental Health Needs

Every day, I hear on the news or read on the internet stories about college students’ mental health issues. It appears to be a national crisis. Some say it started with COVID, as Gen Z students were kept away from school for months or years, depending on where they lived. It seems that being on screen hours a day has taken a real toll in students’ in‐person interactions with others their age. Lately, I’ve heard a lot about students making “friends” and “companions” with AI avatars. I find that really sad.