ABSTRACT
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the mental health status and sleep quality of university students after local outbreak of COVID-19, and to help them understand the psychological stress reaction and provide base for their mental health education. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the mental health status of university students in a Wuhan-based university. Results A total of 897 university students were enrolled in the study. Compared with the epidemic period, university students' mental health status and sleep quality has a great deal of difference in the aspects of gender, grade, discipline and specialty, physical exercise, as well as with their family relationships and so on. 64.26% students would like to talk to their peers or close friends, while only 2.71% would like to call a caring hotline or seek help from a psychologist. Conclusion After the local outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan was contained, the mental health status and sleep quality of more than half of the students improved. However, priority attention and care should be given to female students, senior students, those undertaking literature and history majors and those dissatisfied with family relationships.