By Mackenzie Langham | The mental health of many people has decreased since COVID-19 began. Howard Payne University students are coping with the shifting landscape to the best of their ability.
Mrs. Kimberly Thomas, one of the university counselors, said that student mental health issues are growing.
“Depression rates are rising, anxiety rates are rising, and suicide rates are rising,” Thomas said.
Jim Wunderle, instructor of psychology, said that depression, anxiety, PTSD, and adjustment disorder have increased, and so have eating and sleeping problems.
“There is a confusion as to what to do next. There are solutions that help bring these statistics down, and stepping back from the media is one of them,” said Wunderle.
“Cut down on media and news….It is so repetitively hopeless and fear mongering. Some of it has seemed over the top,” he added.
With all the negativity that COVID-19 has to offer, there is still so much good taking place. Having a schedule has proved to be quite helpful for people when it comes to coping.
“Stick to your schedule, your normal daily routine, as best as you can. In any kind of difficulty, any kind of crisis, people feel better when they have a plan. It is when things are unclear and there is confusion that anxiety amps up. When they have a plan, anxiety goes down and productivity increases,” Wunderle said.
Jessica Morgan, one of the university counselors at HPU, and a Licensed Professional Counselor intern under the supervision of Dr. Athena Bean, said that maintaining healthy spiritual and physical habits are a part of self-care.
“If you have access to it, take a swim, or go fishing. Get outside. That’s probably one of the biggest things you can do to fight against depression and anxiety,” said Morgan.
Many students have found that being back at school has helped with their mental health.
Savannah Burrow, a junior psychology major, has many positive things to say about being back at HPU.
“When we came back to school, I had all my friends and my support system here. At home I sat, I didn’t have any structure,” Burrow said.
Structure has been helpful in many ways. Having a plan has been an improvement to many students at HPU.
Ivy Barbian, a junior elementary education major, said there were several positive aspects of returning to school.
“Being around people that are super uplifting, and just being able to see everyone’s face again has been good, and getting involved with stuff around campus again, because I’ve missed that aspect,” said Barbian.
Burrow said that she has seen some positive aspects in the midst of COVID-19.
“Getting back to school, and getting to go to class, and having homework and having work… Getting to go back to Chapel Band. I missed singing so much,” she added.
Wunderle added that faith is a big part of mental health, too.
“The best medication can fail, the best isolation can fail, the best…online academic strategy will fail but God will never fail us,” he said.