Trixie M.

March, 2021

Living in today’s stressful, isolated and disconnected world is tough on our wellbeing. Deprived of companionship, it's easy to go crazy in these circumstances. Incidentally, over the course of this Covid pandemic, animal ownership rates have unprecedentedly increased, as seen in the staggering estimated number of 11.38 million households in the United States alone who have adopted or purchased a new pet. Proven to alleviate some of the stress and loneliness that have emerged from the Corona restrictions, pets provide much needed physical contact and comfort. A lecturer in health sciences at the University of South Australia, Janette Young, has elucidated human-pet relationships as “bridging the physical intimacy and connection gap for many people at this time."

Man’s Best Friend

During this time of quarantine and isolation, sudden lack of companionship proved lethal and a menace to our health, depriving us of our human need for physical contact. Ever since the beginning of mankind, humans have been wired to interact and connect, to rely, communicate, and show support to one another through touch, whether a pat on the back or a hug. The new quarantine restriction has left many of us in a state of touch deprivation, which in fact, has generated emotional and mental health problems for society. Therefore, to fill this void of emotional support, society has turned to dogs and other animals which are in turn delivering a therapeutic effect to us. In a survey of 5,926 people living the UK, approximately 90% owned at least one pet, and 86.5% of pet owners acknowledged that during their first lockdown, their animals became a source of emotional support. An interviewee from Shultz's Guest House Volunteer, MA established, “There’s no disputing that having a puppy in a home, a dog in a home, a pet in a home really brings people together, and they do offer an enormous sense of support."

A Surprise a Day keeps Mental Issues at Bay

As coronavirus proliferates across the globe, billions of people are compelled to work and study at home, and doing so could be challenging at times. Owning pets may present an additional challenge to some, especially to people who don't enjoy pets as much. “It is compared to taking on a full time project that never winds down nor reaches completion,” an interviewee who wishes to remain anonymous claimed. While a pet is indeed added work for the owner, many understand how pets develop responsibility, nurture a sense of fulfillment, and preserve a consistent routine. Importantly, pleasant surprises provided by pets counterbalance the rigid schedule of caring for them, thereby helping preserve mental health during this pandemic when everyday feels exactly like yesterday. Having something to do coupled with something to look forward to keeps a person’s wellbeing intact. In fact, a study concluded that 74% of pet owners said having a pet improved their mental health. "Even when I don't feel like getting out of bed or leaving the house, I know they're depending on me," 29-year-old Courtney Sparkman, dog owner of two miniature poodles in Tulsa, expresses. "It helps me make it through the day."

Treats for Tricks

Without doubt, not only has isolation impacted humanity, but also has taken a hit on our animal friends. Knowing how to care for and entertain our pets is just as important as keeping them physically healthy. Like us, our pets are adjusting to our being home much more, and in the process, are learning about this new and monotonous pandemic-based lifestyle. A few unfamiliar changes they need to adapt to include less physical activity, less opportunities for fellow animal interactions, and compromised medical care due to less frequent veterinary checkups. Keeping our pets entertained and happy is a way we could show our gratitude towards them as they support and comfort without fail. First, teaching them to do tricks not only instills a sense of discipline and excitement in them, but also builds our own patience and perseverance. Also, providing toys such as chewing bones to your pets helps keep them distracted and happy, and in this case, keeps their teeth strong. Lastly, practice your culinary skills on them. Pets are the most appreciative audience, especially when it comes to food! Once in a while, baking treats or cooking homemade pet food boosts their spirits and creates a nice change of pace. For those who have other pets which cannot perform tricks, play with toys nor consume your culinary creations, something as simple as spending time with them, like sitting beside their fish tank, would certainly make these pets feel comforted and loved.

A Vast Array of Pet Options

Dogs are loyal and fiercely protective. Cats are playful and affectionate. Birds live long and keep your mind sharp. Fish are versatile and have a calming effect. Hamsters are self-reliant. Rabbits are social and highly intelligent. The choice of a pet lies in your unique personality. For those who are thinking of getting one, the most humane option is adopting one from a shelter instead of purchasing from a breeder. Many animals previously abused or abandoned by past owners are in need of a new home where they will once again thrive and feel loved. Studies have found that in the US alone, there are around 70 million stray animals and of this statistic, every year, only about 6 to 8 million cats and dogs enter the country’s 3,500 shelters, showing the dire need to adopt rather than shop. 

Time-tested

Since the beginning of mankind, the company of animal friends has shown to uplift people's life. As a matter of fact, evidenced by wall art and carvings, dogs were pets to humans as early as the Predynastic Period of Egypt (approx. 6000-3150 BCE). Even today, pets remain a key to not only adapt but very well thrive in these difficult times.

By Shivani P. 

March 26, 2021

What’s a Coup?

In the midst of a global pandemic, on February 1, 2021, Myanmar experienced a military coup, as the military took over the country. The military removed the civilian government, charging government officials with election fraud. The military accused the NLD party of using illegal walkie-talkies to spread misinformation that may have caused fear and resulted in election fraud. 

Misinformation of Covid

Many citizens of Myanmar have responded to the coup by protesting. On February 3, doctors and hospital staff quit in protest, and on February 5, teachers quit in protest as well. All of this is occurring in the middle of a health crisis, which has caused the military to reduce the amount of Covid testing. On February 8, only 1987 tests were conducted, the lowest number since December 29, 2020. In contrast, the average amount of tests conducted the week before was 9000, and the number of tests conducted just one day before the coup was 17,000 . As the coup progressed, the average number of tests conducted has stayed around around 9350. 

Ruining the Economy

The military coup is clearly an alarming issue, as Myanmar is experiencing one of the worst Coronavirus outbreaks, and the global economy has already suffered by 4.4%, which is the worst since the Great Depression. The Coronavirus has already limited shoppers and tourism, and has increased unemployment. The side effects of this pandemic are obvious and are increasing. This coup is not helping the situation;  instead it is increasing violence, Covid cases, and ruining the economy. 

Other Countries Response

Many countries have responded to the coup. The Biden administration stated that they would add unspecified sanctions on the country. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said that the coup, "represents a serious blow to democratic reforms in Myanmar.” And Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain said that the, “vote of the people must be respected and civilian leaders released.”

The coup in Myanmar has caused misinformation about Covid, which will increase the aftermath of the pandemic, making is so much harder for the citizens of Myanmar to return to life as normal. All we can hope for is that the coup ends soon.

By Connor L.

March 22, 2021

Most students in ISM will agree with that COVID 19 has caused a drastic upheaval in many of our lives. The pandemic has officially been around for over a year at this point, and many countries around the world have been placed in lockdown in order to reduce the spread of this disease. Now unable to attend school physically, students have been introduced to online learning as a solution to this issue. Using computer software, predominantly Zoom, students gained the ability to learn remotely from the comfort of their own homes. In one glance, distance learning appeared to have many benefits such as being able to interact with family more often, and not needing to wake up very early, as one would be saving on commuting time. However, as time went on, online learning, unlike what we had initially thought, has brought in new challenges for us students to tackle, for example, focusing in class. 

Distractions and Its Effects

One of the main hindrances that keep students from focusing in class are the many distractions that come with the needed device. Yang Yang, a fellow student from ISM claims that what makes online learning more difficult are the “easy distractions that you can get away with, "whether they are in the same device, or in a different one. With the lack of supervision, not much can be done to get you back on track when you are off task, would you not agree? It makes it a lot easier for students to switch to other tabs that grab more of their attention compared to studying. Some examples of the distractions that claim our focus, are social media, chatting, video games, etc. Environmental distractions can also be a hindrance to our concentration. There can be pets, family members, and an entire orchestra of noise that can be heard throughout a school day at home. Because of this, a student’s efficiency when dealing with classwork may decrease as well. That results in more stress, anxiety, and some students even having go to the depths of sacrificing their own sleep later on during the day, in order to get their work done.  

Eliminating Distractions

Of course, that does not mean that the issue cannot be resolved. The first solution is to eliminate the things that keep students from focusing, which are the distractions. Many survey respondents had similar, viable methods to remain on track; smartphones, which are a considerable disturbance to teenagers of this age, should generally be kept out of sight during lesson time. Students can also keep track of incomplete assignments in an organized to-do list that they can finish during a specific work time during the day. In order to keep away from environmental distractions, as mentioned before, students may also continue lessons in their room or any other private, or quiet area where they can the noise and other distractions from disturbing them. Another recommendation is to take short breaks by catching some shut-eye, or having a simple walk outside. Taking a break can provide a refreshing break and an opportunity to reflect a bit more, which will help with concentration when studying.

Making the Best of Distance Learning

Without a teacher observing us from the back, with the introduction of online learning, focusing in class has become a large hurdle for everyone to overcome. For many students, online learning has affected performance in school.  After all, there is a wide range of negative effects that slacking in class may have on wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Some examples may be stress due to the accumulated amounts of schoolwork, sleep deprivation, and much more. But then again, there are just as many solutions to stay focused amid the pandemic. Keeping distractions at bay and writing down a list of the incomplete assignments, for example, are all effective strategies that can be used to maximize our concentration and can generally make students feel more secure and in control during distance learning. 

This graph shows the significant increase in lichess's player base. 

By Asma S.

March 24, 2021

During the Coronavirus pandemic scientist have claimed that teens mental health is going down for being in quarantine for so long. With the disease spreading like wildfire health workers suggest people stay quarantined in their homes, do social distancing try not visiting family and friends. But staying locked up in your house also has affects on teens mental and social health. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 4 in 10 adults in the United States have reported anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms during the pandemic. The restrictions of the pandemic have been felt across the board. For teenagers, restrictions have meant months of virtual learning, more time isolated from friends, and the canceling of important social activities like sports, school performances, graduations, and proms. All these restrictions have made teens isolate and stay to themselves, people’s friendships are also being damaged because of quarantining at home, people may not stay in touch with each other which primarily makes the other person lose interests in the person damaging the friendship they had. 

“When kids are depressed, we try to engage them so they don’t stay in and isolate. We call it behavioural activation,” said Shatkin a 36 year old woman, living in the US. (it shows how social interaction helps with people's mental health, because of Covid their are lockdowns and quarantines which does not allow teens to socalise making their mental health worse. Some teens depend on their friends to help them with their mental stress, their friends support them and try to help them but with lockdown and social distancing it’s hard to support your friends causing their mental and social health to go down.

Parents may have avoided seeking health care for their adolescents due to stay-at-home orders and may continue to do so because they are afraid of getting sick with COVID-19. This includes important well-child visits and their therapist.School closures have impacted many adolescents’ ability to receive mental health, speech therapy.

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