Virtual Place
Date
Partners
Koç University , University of Zagreb , University of Deusto
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the lives of young adults, including students. Accumulating evidence shows that the quality of life and mental health of many students was and remains to be strongly affected by the pandemic. Typically, young adults experience an active and often exciting phase of life during their studies. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this experience is replaced by restrictions and social isolation. Additionally, students may have lost their jobs or may have been forced to leave their accommodations due to financial reasons. All of this may increase insecurities and worries about health and the future, and may decrease the general quality of life and mental well-being of students. One-and-half years after the start of the pandemic, students may have developed different ways to cope with the current situation
180 including: students, PhD students, academic staff and administrative staff
On 9th of December students, scholars and staff members came together to learn and discuss how the pandemic has affected the mental health situation of students at different UNIC universities. The seminar was moderated and facilitated by Kathrin Schopf and Silvia Schneider, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr University Bochum.
In the first part of the seminar, researchers from four UNIC universities presented their current research results, all related with mental health situations of young adults. Even if many aspects in their works; mainly from the fields of Psychology and Social Work; were similar, each of them offered a different perspective on the topic, contributing to an overall picture of the situation of students in the pandemic. Besides their research insights, all inputs included practical recommendations how to improve students’ mental health on an individual and collective way.
Julia Brailovskaia, Ruhr University Bochum, focused on the role of social media for mental health issues in the crisis. Digital studying and working together with increased use of social media during the free time has become the new reality during the pandemic. This development has remarkable negative consequences on mental health of students. But as a moment of hope, her research results also showed that small changes in time-use and self-regulation are powerful methods to change the situation for better.
UNIC CityLabs
Health & Wellbeing
Panel discussion
English
