Examining the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on late-adolescent learners in the Western Cape, South Africa

High levels of psychological distress were observed within the sample: 59% reported clinically significant depressive symptoms, 39% severe anxiety, 35% clinically significant PTSD symptoms, and 13% alcohol use suggestive of dependence. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that fear of COVID-19 was a significant predictor of all four mental health outcomes (p p p Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of school-based mental health interventions that target learners' cognitive appraisals of threat and vulnerability during periods of educational disruption, with implications for strengthening preparedness for future public health emergencies.