Social Distancing is Putting Mental Health at Risk
(Photo Credit: Leilani marie Labong, Sactown Mag.)
By Zarin Siddiqua
“The whole idea of normal is just so chaotic. I’m the type of person who enjoys going outside and having a productive schedule, but now every day is the same,” said Brian Mendoza, a Lehman junior majoring in English. “It makes me feel anxious and it’s hurting my education because I no longer have the motivation.”
Since New York Governor Andrew Cuomo temporarily banned all in-office personnel functions and non-essential gatherings on March 22, stress from the quarantine is taking a toll on people’s mental health. And while Cuomo praised the 6,000 professionals who “volunteer[ed] to provide mental health services for people who need it,” Lehman students have been challenged by the mandatory restrictions.
“As a mother, it is difficult to study at home. I am constantly distracted,” said Lexxis Irizarry, a senior biology major. “And some professors don’t understand the current situation. Instead, they overwhelm us with more homework, and it is affecting me trying to juggle everything”
“I am currently [having] extreme anxiety, and it is leading to severe vision. It has been a difficult and an extra strain on my mental health,” said Jasmine Galloway, a senior psychology major who also works at Lehman’s Wellness Center. “I know that for people who are dealing with mental health issues, this is a great place to seek help as they provide professional advice, and students should really take the opportunity.”
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly 7 million Americans are affected by a generalized anxiety disorder and about 6 million, by panic disorder.
Now, during the pandemic, “the country is on the verge of another health crisis, with daily doses of death, isolation, and fear generating widespread psychological trauma.” Washington Post reported on May 4, 2020 “A federal emergency hotline for people in emotional distress registered a more than 1,000 percent increase in April compared with the same time last year. Last month, roughly 20,000 people texted that hotline, run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.”
The paper also explained that “The suicides of two New York healthcare workers highlight the risks, especially to those combating the pandemic.” One was Lorna Breen, a top New York emergency room doctor. The other was a Bronx emergency medical technician.
Studies published by the American Psychological Association show that the quarantine’s interruption of daily routines leads to feelings of sadness or low mood, while the loss of agency and personal freedom associated with isolation can often feel frustrating.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that fear caused by COVID-19 can lead to changes in sleep or eating patterns, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, and worsening of chronic health problems.
Social distancing can be particularly difficult for people already struggling with mental health issues, according to health experts quoted by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
NBC News reported that part of why mental health suffers during a pandemic is because distancing goes against humans’ social instincts of seeking comfort in larger groups.
“Human beings are meant to be social creatures,” NYU Langone Medical Unit professor Doctor Sue Varma told NBC. “When not socializing our body is perceiving a threat because we don’t have the social support to help with tension.”
“Due to the physical distance many of us are unable to use our regular coping skills like hanging out with friends, working out in a gym, playing sports, hugging, etc.,” said Megan Wilen a counselor at the Counseling Center.
“It is important to utilize other coping skills to deal with stress. The Counseling Center is still open and operational. Any registered Lehman student can access our services at any time by calling 718-960-8761 or emailing counseling.center@lehman.cuny.edu.”
(Photo Credit: NYC Well & Lehman College Counseling Center)
