By Eliza Sullivan

This past year has flipped many of our worlds upside down. The pandemic --and the social isolation, uncertainty, and turmoil that comes with it-- has been a major part of our lives recently, for better or worse. Many mental health professionals worried that this past year would have negative effects on mental health, especially the mental health of students, and that has been the case.

Experts predicted that people’s mental health would decline over the course of this pandemic, and as studies are being done, we are seeing more and more evidence of that. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 31% of people have experienced new or worsening symptoms of anxiety or depression. They cited loneliness, food and job insecurity, and health anxiety as some of the main factors.

When 67 Talawanda students were polled about their mental health over the past year, the results were similar to those of the general population. 43% of students said their mental health was affected negatively, 7.5% said it affected them negatively and positively, 37% said it had no effect on their mental health, and only 12% said it affected them positively. More specifically, 48% of students reported increased anxiety, and more than 40% of students reported changes in sleeping, losing interest in things they used to enjoy, and feelings of isolation. Several students also said their social anxiety increased and they lost friends due to the isolation. Only 20% reported no increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Students commonly cited things such as social isolation, having to wear masks, boredom, stress, and worrying about the future as damaging to their mental health. The group of students whose mental health was improved over the pandemic mostly said that they had time to work on themselves and spend time doing things they enjoyed. When asked what would help with their mental health, most students said things such as life going back to normal, being able to socialize with friends, and less stress from school would improve their mental health.

So, how can we help the 43% of students whose mental health was affected negatively? If your mental health is concerning you, reaching out to a counselor or parent is a good first step towards help. If you or a loved one is in crisis, you can call the National Suicide Prevention line at 1-800-985-5990. For better mental wellness, practicing coping skills such as meditation and journaling can help us get in touch with our thoughts during these difficult times. In addition, making sure that we’re reaching out to friends and loved ones is vital. We don’t see as many people on a day to day basis, so consciously making the effort to maintain relationships is important. Most importantly, the faster we can end this pandemic, the faster things can go back to normal and we can all start to rebound from this tough year.