The process of leaving Athens and returning home due to the coronavirus has taken a toll mentally on students, and many have been finding ways to cope with the added stress.
Some students who struggle with their mental health have been affected strongly with the sudden change in their lives, and they are finding different ways to cope with the added stress of online classes, home life or other factors. Ohio University has offered several online support pages and hotlines and has quickly attempted to help students adapt to leaving campus.
“Being home is really hard for me,” Erykah Gaston, a freshman studying moderate to intensive special education, said. “Growing up in a toxic household, college and dorming was a really good escape for me. I had my own schedule, a great deal of independence and more of a focus on me.”
Gaston has been taking a little time for herself every day, which includes movies before bed, taking walks or trips to the store and setting aside time to focus on her work. One of the most important activities of hers is keeping in touch with her friends.
“In a household this big, it’s hard to really focus on my needs,” Gaston said. “I’m taking care of my nephew, doing schooling with my nephew and brother and still trying to get work done myself. It hasn’t been a very productive or positive time for me, which is very different than how I’ve felt the past few months.”
Hadass Galili, a freshman studying adolescent to young adult integrated language arts, said she has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and the news of the campus closing negatively affected her mental health.
“While I was at school, I suffered heavily because of constant panic attacks caused by stress,” Galili said. “But even so, OU was my home. I knew that I was safe there. When I learned that I would have to finish my semester online, I immediately had a panic attack and experienced heightened anxiety until all of my stuff from my dorm was packed away in my room back home.”
Galili said the current uncertainty of the future has taken a toll on her depression and that she longs for the day she can return to Athens. Galili, along with many other students, is feeling incredibly alone during this extended period of time away from Athens and her close friends.
“Now that I'm home and unsure of the future, my anxiety is at a normal level, but my depression has gotten much worse,” Galili said. “I don't think I've ever felt this hopeless or alone before, and all I want all day every day is to go back to Athens, my happy place.”
One way Galili has been coping with the stress and changes in mental health has been through creating art, whether that is painting canvases or designing clothing.
Micah McCarey, OU LGBT Center director, said he was prepared to be bombarded with concerns from students about the move-out, but OU has provided several opportunities for students.
“I think that because OU took quick action, it has been helpful to LGBTQ members,” McCarey said.
Students are finding different ways to cope. McCarey said that students reach out more often about not feeling as free to be themselves when living at home, rather than feeling unsafe at home.
“I’m off campus in Athens, and I think, from my experience, practicing self care myself is important before I assist others,” McCarey said. “I am surprised at how quickly OU has adapted to this online community.”
The LGBT Center has made available a survey of pledges that allows allies and members of the community to pledge their support.
“We are using social media to highlight one office, staff member or student talking about how they are practicing active allyship of our community and how members are staying proactive,” McCarey said. “We will leave the survey open to help us strategically monitor where we need to cultivate for allies and highlight allies we do have.”
All four centers for diversity and inclusion, including the LGBT Center, Women’s Center, Multicultural Center and the Office for Multicultural Student Access & Retention are offering different methods of keeping in touch with students in need of their support, during normal office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
More information on how to keep in touch with support centers in Athens, updates on virtual events and updates on counseling and psychological resources are available at ohio.edu/diversity.
