MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDU-CATION STAFF IN TIMES OF CRISIS

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of higher education staff. Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of higher education staff. Materials and methods: The survey subjects were 165 university teachers of the Medical University in Varna. The following tools were used: a questionnaire to explore some aspects of the respondent's quality of life before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, HADS and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Descriptive statistical methods, a t -test, correlation analysis, chi 2 test and a multiple linear regression model were applied. SPSS version v.24.0 was used to process the survey data. The survey took place between October and December 2022. Results: The mean value on the anxiety scale was 5.61, SD = 4.027 and 3.62, SD = 3.39 on the depression scale. The mean score on the emotional exhaustion scale (EE) was 27.67. The mean in the depersonalization scale was 9.10, SD = 5.494. The personal accomplishment mean value was 44.78, SD = 8.006. The results from HADS depression and HADS anxiety showed a statistical significance for predicting the scores on the EE scale (beta = 1.158, p = 0.0001 and beta = 0.573, p = 0.021). The levels of stress before and during the pandemic had a statistically significant weak correlation with the EE scale. Conclusions: activities for general and selective prevention of occupational stress and burnout, based on stress -coping strategies, can be introduced in higher education.