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Scattered to the Winds, College Students Mourn Lost Semester Scattered to the Winds, College Students Mourn Lost Semester
(6 days later)
From his little room in the empty summer camp where he was sheltering from the pandemic, like a character in an apocalyptic movie, Joshua McCartney wrote a letter to the provost of Denison University, where he was a senior.From his little room in the empty summer camp where he was sheltering from the pandemic, like a character in an apocalyptic movie, Joshua McCartney wrote a letter to the provost of Denison University, where he was a senior.
His classmates had been scattered to the four winds, breaking up the community they depended on for support. They were anxious and stressed, he said, and the university did not seem to get it.His classmates had been scattered to the four winds, breaking up the community they depended on for support. They were anxious and stressed, he said, and the university did not seem to get it.
“The sheer volume of panic attacks, nightmares and tears that have been related to me in the past two weeks is staggering,” he wrote in a letter co-signed by 23 other students.“The sheer volume of panic attacks, nightmares and tears that have been related to me in the past two weeks is staggering,” he wrote in a letter co-signed by 23 other students.
Stress and college seem to go hand in hand, but the sudden emptying out of campuses across the United States has increased the anxiety for many students, who find themselves isolated from their peers, packed together with their parents and full of worry over what the future holds.Stress and college seem to go hand in hand, but the sudden emptying out of campuses across the United States has increased the anxiety for many students, who find themselves isolated from their peers, packed together with their parents and full of worry over what the future holds.
One in five students say their mental health has significantly worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey conducted in April by Active Minds, a mental health advocacy group focused on college students.One in five students say their mental health has significantly worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey conducted in April by Active Minds, a mental health advocacy group focused on college students.
Almost all of the 2,000 students surveyed said the virus had caused them stress or anxiety, and 80 percent said they had experienced loneliness or isolation because of it. Nearly half said that a major source of stress was the financial impact of the virus on them or their families.Almost all of the 2,000 students surveyed said the virus had caused them stress or anxiety, and 80 percent said they had experienced loneliness or isolation because of it. Nearly half said that a major source of stress was the financial impact of the virus on them or their families.
As the virus spread, young people shifted from talking about getting a degree, finding a job and falling in love to “pandemic anxiety,” said Boaz Gaon, founder of the mental-health-oriented social networking app Wisdo, which has 20,000 active college-age users. “They’ve developed sleeplessness,” Mr. Gaon said. “They’re looking for new friends, purpose in life.”As the virus spread, young people shifted from talking about getting a degree, finding a job and falling in love to “pandemic anxiety,” said Boaz Gaon, founder of the mental-health-oriented social networking app Wisdo, which has 20,000 active college-age users. “They’ve developed sleeplessness,” Mr. Gaon said. “They’re looking for new friends, purpose in life.”
Of course, most people are resilient, and sadness and anxiety can be an understandable reaction to this wrenching moment. “We don’t need to tell people they’re suffering from a mental health problem when they’re having an appropriate response to very challenging circumstances,” said Victor Schwartz, a psychiatrist with the Jed Foundation, who advises colleges on mental health issues.Of course, most people are resilient, and sadness and anxiety can be an understandable reaction to this wrenching moment. “We don’t need to tell people they’re suffering from a mental health problem when they’re having an appropriate response to very challenging circumstances,” said Victor Schwartz, a psychiatrist with the Jed Foundation, who advises colleges on mental health issues.
Still, Mr. McCartney can testify that the feelings he and others are experiencing are intense. To prove it, he has collected a series of testimonials from his friends:Still, Mr. McCartney can testify that the feelings he and others are experiencing are intense. To prove it, he has collected a series of testimonials from his friends:
“The things that have gotten me through the roughest times in college have been the community, my friends and roommates. I have lost that support network.”“The things that have gotten me through the roughest times in college have been the community, my friends and roommates. I have lost that support network.”
“I just spent an hour crying, and that was my self-care of the month.”“I just spent an hour crying, and that was my self-care of the month.”
“Josh, I’m serious — I don’t think I can do this much more. I have no motivation, and I can’t work this hard for much longer.”“Josh, I’m serious — I don’t think I can do this much more. I have no motivation, and I can’t work this hard for much longer.”
While Maite Rodriguez was away at college, her mother moved into her childhood room. A junior at New York University, Ms. Rodriguez returned home to Newark in March to find her mother’s Bible studies laid out on her old desk, and her mother’s jewelry scattered around her old room.While Maite Rodriguez was away at college, her mother moved into her childhood room. A junior at New York University, Ms. Rodriguez returned home to Newark in March to find her mother’s Bible studies laid out on her old desk, and her mother’s jewelry scattered around her old room.
“I literally don’t have a space in my house that’s my own,” she said.“I literally don’t have a space in my house that’s my own,” she said.
She could hardly blame her parents. They were down, too. They live over the family restaurant and bar, which was closed because of the virus. Her mother went downstairs nonetheless to clean it every day. Her father slept most of the day and watched TV all night, the schedule he kept when the bar was open. Ms. Rodriguez found her sleep habits changing to match.She could hardly blame her parents. They were down, too. They live over the family restaurant and bar, which was closed because of the virus. Her mother went downstairs nonetheless to clean it every day. Her father slept most of the day and watched TV all night, the schedule he kept when the bar was open. Ms. Rodriguez found her sleep habits changing to match.
Her family joked that she was the breadwinner, because Ms. Rodriguez was still being paid $150 every two weeks for the student job she could no longer do.Her family joked that she was the breadwinner, because Ms. Rodriguez was still being paid $150 every two weeks for the student job she could no longer do.
She faithfully took her classes online, sitting on the bed she shared with her mother. Instead of clearing her head by walking across campus between classes, she walked around the kitchen.She faithfully took her classes online, sitting on the bed she shared with her mother. Instead of clearing her head by walking across campus between classes, she walked around the kitchen.
She noticed that some of her peers rarely checked into class. But she could no longer knock on their dorm room doors to ask how they were doing.She noticed that some of her peers rarely checked into class. But she could no longer knock on their dorm room doors to ask how they were doing.
Instead, she caught glimpses of their home lives on Zoom — upscale residences with floor-to-ceiling windows or a student sitting stoically through a screaming match between his parents.Instead, she caught glimpses of their home lives on Zoom — upscale residences with floor-to-ceiling windows or a student sitting stoically through a screaming match between his parents.
Out of sympathy for him, Ms. Rodriguez turned off the sound on her computer. “I felt really bad because I could relate to it,” she said.Out of sympathy for him, Ms. Rodriguez turned off the sound on her computer. “I felt really bad because I could relate to it,” she said.
When they sent students home, colleges began offering mental health counseling remotely. But requests for counseling showed a decrease rather than an increase, according to Kim Coplin, the Denison provost to whom Mr. McCartney wrote his letter. She said other colleges and universities showed a similar pattern. “We don’t have any data available at this time to give us definitive answers,” Dr. Coplin said.When they sent students home, colleges began offering mental health counseling remotely. But requests for counseling showed a decrease rather than an increase, according to Kim Coplin, the Denison provost to whom Mr. McCartney wrote his letter. She said other colleges and universities showed a similar pattern. “We don’t have any data available at this time to give us definitive answers,” Dr. Coplin said.
Students say the answer is obvious — lack of privacy at home.Students say the answer is obvious — lack of privacy at home.
Joshua Osvaldo Arrayales had a therapist and a nutritionist at N.Y.U., where he went through a gender transition. But now that he has returned home to San Diego, he no longer consults them. “They did tell us we were allowed to videoconference,” he said. “I thought it was best to maybe not openly talk about how my parents have made a lot of my life difficult.”Joshua Osvaldo Arrayales had a therapist and a nutritionist at N.Y.U., where he went through a gender transition. But now that he has returned home to San Diego, he no longer consults them. “They did tell us we were allowed to videoconference,” he said. “I thought it was best to maybe not openly talk about how my parents have made a lot of my life difficult.”
He has been trying to wean himself from his anti-anxiety medication, because it has been hard to get a steady supply.He has been trying to wean himself from his anti-anxiety medication, because it has been hard to get a steady supply.
He dreaded going home to face his family.He dreaded going home to face his family.
“I feel like being thrown into my home life, which over the years has exacerbated both my anxiety and my depression,” he said, “I’m going to have a setback.”“I feel like being thrown into my home life, which over the years has exacerbated both my anxiety and my depression,” he said, “I’m going to have a setback.”
His parents are still at work, his mother at a grocery store, his father in the food service industry. Mr. Arrayales takes care of his little sister and walks the dog. He has mixed feelings about being home — he wants to take care of his family and be taken care of, yet he misses his independence.His parents are still at work, his mother at a grocery store, his father in the food service industry. Mr. Arrayales takes care of his little sister and walks the dog. He has mixed feelings about being home — he wants to take care of his family and be taken care of, yet he misses his independence.
But he is anxious to regain his life and identity in college. “I think it’s just like, I feel really lonely,” he said. “I think that in New York, going to school, I had some kind of purpose, in a way, because I had to be at work. I had to be at class. I made plans with people, so I had to be there. Now it’s like I don’t have to be anywhere, and even if I do, I’m already there. I’m already at home.”But he is anxious to regain his life and identity in college. “I think it’s just like, I feel really lonely,” he said. “I think that in New York, going to school, I had some kind of purpose, in a way, because I had to be at work. I had to be at class. I made plans with people, so I had to be there. Now it’s like I don’t have to be anywhere, and even if I do, I’m already there. I’m already at home.”
The mental health and academic performance of students are intertwined, so universities have tried to provide academic as well as psychological help remotely. “We continued to provide free tutoring, academic advising, virtual study tables and library support and resources,” Dr. Coplin, the Denison provost, said.The mental health and academic performance of students are intertwined, so universities have tried to provide academic as well as psychological help remotely. “We continued to provide free tutoring, academic advising, virtual study tables and library support and resources,” Dr. Coplin, the Denison provost, said.
Updated May 28, 2020
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
There is an uptick in people reporting symptoms of chilblains, which are painful red or purple lesions that typically appear in the winter on fingers or toes. The lesions are emerging as yet another symptom of infection with the new coronavirus. Chilblains are caused by inflammation in small blood vessels in reaction to cold or damp conditions, but they are usually common in the coldest winter months. Federal health officials do not include toe lesions in the list of coronavirus symptoms, but some dermatologists are pushing for a change, saying so-called Covid toe should be sufficient grounds for testing.
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.
But Grace Horn, Mr. McCartney’s classmate at Denison, found that counseling online had its limits. “Now there’s just a disconnect that you can’t breach virtually,” she said.But Grace Horn, Mr. McCartney’s classmate at Denison, found that counseling online had its limits. “Now there’s just a disconnect that you can’t breach virtually,” she said.
Ms. Horn, home in Atlanta, worries about the future. She left school in the middle of applying for jobs after graduation, and her divorced mother is unemployed.Ms. Horn, home in Atlanta, worries about the future. She left school in the middle of applying for jobs after graduation, and her divorced mother is unemployed.
At home, she has the ideal quarantine setup: her own bedroom, her own bathroom, a little balcony outside of her room. She makes Chex Mix as if she were still in her dorm. When it is time to socialize, she joins her mother and, from a distance, the backyard neighbors. She said her mood was volatile.At home, she has the ideal quarantine setup: her own bedroom, her own bathroom, a little balcony outside of her room. She makes Chex Mix as if she were still in her dorm. When it is time to socialize, she joins her mother and, from a distance, the backyard neighbors. She said her mood was volatile.
“It really oscillates from great hope, and I’m graduating and I have great friends, and we’re talking on Zoom all the time to these great deep sadnesses where I just kind of cry, and I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said.“It really oscillates from great hope, and I’m graduating and I have great friends, and we’re talking on Zoom all the time to these great deep sadnesses where I just kind of cry, and I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said.
In March, Mr. McCartney drove to the summer camp his family has operated for generations in Sidney, Maine, from Denison’s campus in Granville, Ohio.In March, Mr. McCartney drove to the summer camp his family has operated for generations in Sidney, Maine, from Denison’s campus in Granville, Ohio.
His father picked up his sister in Chicago, stopped at their apartment in New York City to pick up the cat and joined him. His mother went south to Florida, to tend to her parents.His father picked up his sister in Chicago, stopped at their apartment in New York City to pick up the cat and joined him. His mother went south to Florida, to tend to her parents.
There is a charter school on the camp grounds, also closed for the pandemic. He set himself up in a classroom. The high-speed Wi-Fi was excellent.There is a charter school on the camp grounds, also closed for the pandemic. He set himself up in a classroom. The high-speed Wi-Fi was excellent.
In some ways, it was a cozy setup. His father and sister live in separate staff apartments. His aunt and uncle live in the main house. His cousin and his cousin’s husband have moved in as well. Another cousin, a carpenter, lives in town and comes to visit, but, at least at first, was wary of getting out of his car for fear of infection.In some ways, it was a cozy setup. His father and sister live in separate staff apartments. His aunt and uncle live in the main house. His cousin and his cousin’s husband have moved in as well. Another cousin, a carpenter, lives in town and comes to visit, but, at least at first, was wary of getting out of his car for fear of infection.
But Mr. McCartney feels trapped.But Mr. McCartney feels trapped.
“I spend all day in this room,” Mr. McCartney said, just before final exams this month. “I eat breakfast alone. I come up here, do my homework, attend class, do more work. I talk with my friends, usually about work. We try not to talk about the virus.”“I spend all day in this room,” Mr. McCartney said, just before final exams this month. “I eat breakfast alone. I come up here, do my homework, attend class, do more work. I talk with my friends, usually about work. We try not to talk about the virus.”
He was heartened when the provost got back to him within hours of his email, telling him that she, too, was having adjustment problems.He was heartened when the provost got back to him within hours of his email, telling him that she, too, was having adjustment problems.
About a week ago, he celebrated his commencement online, with family members dropping in remotely. It was a happy event, but the anxiety rose up in him as soon as it was over. Medical school beckons in the future. But he is not exactly sure what to do right now.About a week ago, he celebrated his commencement online, with family members dropping in remotely. It was a happy event, but the anxiety rose up in him as soon as it was over. Medical school beckons in the future. But he is not exactly sure what to do right now.
“Everything has been ended — closed or canceled or disallowed,” he said.“Everything has been ended — closed or canceled or disallowed,” he said.