University staff have been told to be mindful of mental health issues students are likely to experience as the "fourth wave" of the coronavirus pandemic.
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A talk for Charles Sturt University staff and students was presented on Tuesday by scholar and lecturer Brenda Morris, visiting virtually from Carleton University in Canada.
CSU last week announced a phased return for all students, including at the Albury campus, but that would not include Victorian students while the state border was closed.
"All of the incidents or problems around student mental health are likely to increase, in fact the likely impact of COVID is expected to be quite significant," Ms Morris said.
"While those with other urgent and chronic, but non-COVID, conditions are already experiencing health impacts, the accumulated impact on mental health within the general population is expected to be even greater."
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She said the "unprecedented global pandemic" was likely to have an impact on mental health, including "the psychological trauma of COVID itself, the impact of the pandemic experience, pandemic requirements for isolation".
Students were expected to be among those with financial and job worries, made worse during the pandemic.
Ms Morris said staff at CSU should not be surprised by having students in this situation and their role was to help them continue their education
"People struggle with mental health and people are on our programs so our students are therefore going to struggle with their mental health at times," she said.
"It's always about demonstrating competencies and whether or not the student is able to do so, what the student needs in order to do so."
