The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for educational institutions worldwide, including Universiti Teknologi MARA , Cawangan Pulau Pinang (UiTMCPP) in Malaysia. During the pandemic, the campus experienced a lockdown with 255 students, leading to potential stress, anxiety, and depression among the student population. To assess the students' mental health, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) was employed as a tool to measure their levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Based on the survey conducted, it was found that a significant percentage of students experienced normal levels of stress (70%), anxiety (55%), and depression (60%). However, a small percentage of students reported extremely severe cases of stress (0.8%), anxiety (7.1%), and depression (2.7%). These findings provided insight into the students' mental health condition during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. In response to these findings, the Student Affair Department at UiTMCPP took appropriate actions based on a situational leadership approach. The leadership team recognized the need to adapt their leadership style to the unique situation presented by the pandemic. They took steps to provide support and assistance to students who were experiencing higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. This may have included offering counselling services, providing resources for mental health support, and creating initiatives to foster a supportive and inclusive campus environment during the challenging times of the pandemic. The situational leadership approach allowed the Student Affair Department to effectively respond to the needs of the students, taking into consideration the specific situation of the lockdown and the mental health challenges faced by the students. By being flexible and adaptable in their leadership approach, the Student Affair Department was able to provide appropriate support to the students and help them cope with the stress, anxiety, and depression caused by the pandemic.
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