Though it has been a few years since the pandemic wreaked havoc on populations across the globe, the ripple effect on mental health and well-being continues. One trend that is steadily growing at an alarming rate is loneliness, especially among college students. Recent studies show that college students suffer at the highest rate across multiple generations. According to a study conducted by Sodexo, “53% of current college students reported that they are currently concerned with feeling lonely, and 47% reported they are concerned with feeling isolated.” While loneliness is not a new phenomenon, it has been exacerbated by the pandemic, causing disruptions at college: education, social life, and mental health have been particularly impacted. Sixty-three percent of college students reported feeling very lonely during the course of the pandemic, compared to 45% before the pandemic, a study by the American College Health Association states. While new data shows a slight decrease in loneliness, this seemingly common challenge in campus life can have serious consequences for students’ well-being, such as increased stress, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Just this last year, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory to raise awareness about the “devastating impact” of loneliness and isolation on the nation’s health and well-being. He urged individuals, communities and organizations to take action to create more social infrastructure and foster social connectedness and highlighted some strategies to combat loneliness through peer support groups, mentoring programs and community service.
At the University of Toledo, researchers and offices across campus have been actively addressing the topic of loneliness and how to provide resources to students to work through challenges that often are connected to loneliness. In a study released earlier this year, Dr. Mamta Ojha, an assistant professor at the University of Toledo in the School of Social Justice, Social Work program and her colleagues conducted a study noting a correlation between loneliness and anxiety and that resilience was a factor in lower levels of anxiety and depression. Her work is part of a larger conversation in ongoing research on the topic of loneliness and other mental health related issues that students face on campus.
The University Counseling Center, located on the main campus, is a primary resource for students looking for a way to connect to resources for dealing with loneliness, getting support for mental health needs and overall well-being. According to Catashia Haskins, a licensed professional counselor at the Center, students get help directly by calling to schedule an appointment with one of their licensed counselors or call 9-8-8 for immediate assistance in crisis situations. Along with these resources, students can access many self-guided resources to help relieve stress, anxiety and loneliness, such as smartphone apps and peer community platforms.
“Togetherall would be a great resource for students who are experiencing loneliness,” Haskins said. Togetherall, a platform that provides a safe community for students to connect and share their feelings and give peer support, is a particularly good option for students looking to manage their sense of loneliness. Another way that students can find support is to support others! The University Counseling Center also offers STAR training for students, faculty and staff to help others combat and prevent mental health crises.
The first step to better mental health and well-being is to know the resources available. Here at the University of Toledo, there are many programs and events to get involved, find support and build community. You never need to fight alone.
For more information on support for loneliness or other health and well-being related topics, visit the Counseling Center’s website.