Social isolation caused by the coronavirus pandemic has left millions of people feeling isolated and lonely. One group that has been especially affected is college students—especially those new to campus, who had yet to find a group of friends, join clubs, and forge relationships with staff and faculty. Social distancing, mask wearing, virtual classes, and club meetings have made it more difficult than ever to feel connected. Even a chance to meet someone in a crowded elevator or lingering over a meal in a dining hall has been rendered impossible this year.
BU Today has spent particular attention covering the mental health toll the pandemic is exerting on students. We noticed that students were frequently posting to social media sites like Reddit and on class Facebook pages about how college wasn’t what they expected, and how they don’t know how to go about making friends.
We set out to document how widespread the problem of loneliness is right now on college campuses. We cited a number of recent studies that looked at the pandemic’s effect on young people’s mental health, including a survey of more than 18,000 college students in the United States conducted by the Healthy Minds Network that found that 80 percent report that COVID-19 has negatively impacted their mental health. One-fifth of respondents said they felt their mental health had significantly worsened during this time.
In addition to interviewing students about their struggles, we sought to provide crucial tips and resources for how to meet people.
From the Judges
This story took on less-talked-about subject, and it employed a creative opening. We liked how the story blended campus life, students' experiences, and university experts.
