Mental Health Outcomes Among Health and Medicine Undergraduate Students Post-COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study from Sulaimani, Iraq

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of young individuals, particularly university students who experienced a sudden transition in their mode of education. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among medical students at Sulaimani Polytechnic University following the easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and June 2022 among 194 students from the health colleges at Sulaimani Polytechnic University. Data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) via self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the severity levels of symptoms across genders. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were applied to explore associations between demographic factors and the prevalence of psychological symptoms.Results: The mean age of participants was 20.5 years (SD = 3.7). Female students had significantly higher mean scores for depression (mean difference = 3.69), anxiety (3.68), and stress (4.76) compared to males. The prevalence of depression (p = 0.02), anxiety (p = 0.004), and stress (p = 0.003) was significantly higher among females. Female gender was identified as a strong independent predictor of psychological distress: depression (AOR = 2.00), anxiety (AOR = 2.11), and stress (AOR = 2.26).Conclusion: A considerable prevalence of psychological disorders persists among university students even after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Female students and those in the second academic stage were particularly vulnerable. Universities should implement targeted mental health support services for these at-risk groups. Further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying causes of psychological distress in this population.