By: Jared Stranberg & Phil Lemen
In 2017, the American College Health Association surveyed nearly 48,000 college students. Roughly 64% of respondents reported that they had felt “very lonely” in the past 12 months. Additionally, 62% reported feeling “overwhelming anxiety,” 69% felt “very sad” and 53% felt “things were hopeless.”
Currently, colleges and universities are trying to combat these feelings with trained staff to help students. While the University of Nebraska at Lincoln has recently introduced counselors in residence halls, students here in Omaha have resident assistants trained by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
Peter David, a Maverick Village resident assistant at the University of Nebraska Omaha, offered his thoughts on following UNL’s footsteps.
“I do feel like it would be beneficial,” David said. “But since we do have CAPS right now, I don’t think we really need that.”
In the entry to Maverick Village dorm David manages is a poster that dictates numerous ways to stay mentally and physically healthy. Practices like good sleep habits, exercise and time management are all recommended. On the negative side, David agrees that certain practices and habits could be negative to mental health. A commonly blamed source is social media.
“It can affect the mental health of students,” David said. “I remember last year I knew someone that was greatly afflicted by it.”
Studies have backed up this observation. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that young adults felt more alone than peers who used social media comparatively less. In addition, the Cooperative Institutional Research Program at the University of California has found a correlation between decreasing socialization and increasing social media usage.
Matthew Powers, a former UNL student, agreed with the hypothesis posed by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that social media provides a highly idealized version of happy lives.
“From firsthand experience I’d say yeah,” Powers said. “I see people my age are getting married and having kids. Meanwhile I’m a single, 23-year-old guy. It affects me. However, you’re seeing it from a window. You’re only seeing the bright side of things.”
Sean Kassmeier, a recent graduate from Black Hills State University, added that the influx of hostility and negative news on social media gives a dismal outlook.
“It can also bring you down, you know,” Kassmeier said. “The political posts and the news can make you feel bad about the world.”
There are positives to social media. The ability to get to know people, reach out to lost contacts and maintain connections with people you don’t see frequently are all bonuses. Moderation, however, is highly recommended by researchers for better mental health.
