The coronavirus pandemic has very clearly had a major effect on many of our lives. While people of all ages are suffering its impact, university students definitely fall into the category of individuals who are struggling immensely because of it. In a study conducted in Greece by Konstantopolou & Raikou (2020) on a sample population of 570 university students, it was found that a significant percentage of participants reported increased symptoms of depression and declining mental health. (1) While the causes of this decline in mental wellbeing may seem obvious, it is important to understand what factors exactly contribute to this, and how one may go about making things better for themselves.
The National Institute for Mental Health defines depression as a fairly common mood disorder which negatively affects the way one thinks, feels, and behaves. (2) Its symptoms generally include anhedonia (loss of interest in day-to-day activities), low mood, irritability, feelings of guilt, and, in more extreme cases, suicidal ideation. In times of global crisis such as the pandemic, individuals with a predisposition for depression and anxiety may find themselves feeling low and anxious more often. People with an even disposition are not immune to levels of elevated stress caused by unprecedented events. This may be due to the addition of stressors in one’s environment, such as the consumption of information about the pandemic and death tolls from the media, the fear of being infected, and frustration with others who do not follow guidelines set by the government to prevent the spread of the virus.
In university students specifically, besides dealing with the long list of common stressors, the additional strain of having to complete coursework to a particular standard in environments which are far from ideal, as well as the lack of interaction with likeminded people may contribute to feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and ultimately, depression. As a student completing my studies from home, completing coursework while dealing with taking classes in a different time zone, trying to find spots in my house with the best internet to avoid connectivity issues (the bathroom has been my best bet so far!), asking my family not to walk into my room while I’m on a zoom call, and praying for a lack of power cuts that interrupt my lectures has not been easy. These experiences, I’m sure, resonate with the rest of the student population across the globe. A study conducted by Debowska, Horeczy, Boduszek, & Dolinski (2020) assessed levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidality in different groups of university students (medical, political science, psychology etc.). They found that there was a significant increase in the levels of depression experienced by students as the pandemic progressed, and that female students displayed significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress than their male counterparts. (3) Given the throngs of evidence (and additional personal experiences) that determine the vulnerability of University students to depression and other emotional disorders during the pandemic, the question now arises- what can students do to ease the pressures and stress they feel?
The issue that impacts students the most is probably the lack of connection with people their own age, i.e., isolation. One way to reduce these feelings of isolation is to try and keep the relationships with friends alive, checking in with each other, having conversations about things apart from current affairs, and playing online multiplayer games together could help. In addition to this, one can join anonymous forums, or social media groups dedicated to connect students with one another during this time, and can maybe have a go at remotely making new friends. Low levels of motivation to complete coursework can be remedied by starting online study groups with peers from your class.
Feelings of pessimism and periods of low mood settle in when one is left alone with their thoughts for too long. When the thoughts comprise mostly of unsettling information, such as the content we consume during the pandemic, the probability of feeling anxious or depressed increases, and it feels easier to slip into depression than to avoid it. In order to prevent these feelings in times of unproductivity, keeping a schedule and trying to be productive with one’s free time may help keep negative or interfering ideas out of one’s mind. Finding happiness in free time by reading that book you’ve always wanted to read, starting a craft you never thought you could do and turning it into a long-term project, or maintaining quarantine fitness goals deters negative affect and keeps the mind focused on endorphin-generating activities, effectively tricking yourself into feeling good.
In acknowledgement of the fact that it’s not always easy to pick up and maintain activities when you’re stuck indoors, have an ever-growing pile of coursework, and ‘doing things’ sometimes just isn’t what you want, distracting your mind from the negativity around yourself allows for a relaxed way of avoiding low mood. Listening to new music, a podcast, consuming non-current media, such as watching movies or a new YouTube series are all good ways of keeping your mind occupied.
Times such as these are difficult for everyone, but that does not mean your struggles are invalid. Understanding this is very important, especially when all one hears around them is how others are suffering. In light of this acknowledgement, it is very important for one to be able to identify their own signs of falling into a negative or low mood. One should not hesitate to seek professional help simply due to the fact that the world is suffering, and that other people have it worse than them. Getting an education is definitely important, but right now, staying mentally and physically healthy should be a priority.
If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of depression (constant state of low mood, anhedonia, irritability, anxiety, and/or suicidal ideation), find aid in our ‘Get Help’ section.
References
1. Konstantopoulou, G., & Raikou, N. (2020). European Journal of Public Health Studies, Clinical evaluation of depression on university students during quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic, 3(1).
2. National Institute of Mental Health. Depression.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml (accessed 28/01/2021)
3. Debowska, A., Horeczy, B., Boduszek, D., & Dolinski, D. (2020). A repeated cross-sectional survey assessing university students’ stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Psychological Medicine, 1-4. doi:https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329172000392X
4. Health Matters. How to Avoid Depression During the Coronavirus Pandemic. https://healthmatters.nyp.org/how-to-avoid-depression-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/ (accessed 28/01/2021)
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