The pandemic has caused many trials and tribulations for our world that have significantly affected mental health
As people continue to face various challenges that arose from the pandemic, everyone can relate to the negative effects that quarantine has had on their mental health. Although it has become more mainstream to talk about mental health, people are still struggling to overcome isolation, Zoom classes, cancelation of sports seasons and deaths of loved ones.
For this reason, Sam Gould, an adjunct professor at Cypress Community college, created the first integrative health and wellness certificate program at the community college level in order to spread awareness about the importance of mental health. In his program, he teaches classes on mindfulness while also providing his students with ways to cope and ease their mind during this stressful time.
Gould said he decided to create the program in order to provide an opportunity for students to, “learn about integrative health where they otherwise would not have the access to such progressive educational health and wellness resources.”
While academic pressure in a normal college environment is to be expected, the pandemic made matters worse by amplifying already existing feelings of stress, loneliness, anxiety and depression among students. Yet, students still receive little to no education in regards to taking care of their emotional wellbeing.
From May to July of 2020, a nationwide study found that out of 30,725 undergraduate students in the U.S., 35 percent had major depressive disorders while 39 percent said they had generalized anxiety disorder.
Gould believes that health and wellness should become more prominent in school curriculums so that students can develop a better understanding of health.
“Health is a state of being and participating fully in the world,” Gould said.
Michael Brydges, a communications professor at Cypress Community College, attended one of Gould’s classes in his program called Mindfulness Meditation via Zoom and found it to be very beneficial.
“I believe it helps everyone to take a moment and just concentrate on breathing,” Brydges said. “Slowing down the pace allows each person to become more grounded in their work. I think it provides the opportunity to know that there are strategies out there that can help with coping and managing mental care.”
Like Gould, Brydges also believes that it is important to take a few moments out of the day to reflect and just breathe.
Zoom fatigue
Zoom meetings are not just affecting students, but professors as well. Gould said switching to online classes has shifted the “experiential dynamic that is important for our individual and collective learning.”
However, he is looking at this year as an opportunity to grow and self reflect by putting his energy into providing his students the tools they need to get through this mentally challenging period.
“Although the challenges have been immeasurable for so many, I have witnessed increased interest in integrative health and wellness, which ultimately gives me hope for a more nourishing and purposeful future,” Gould remarked.
Gould’s hope for his students is that they will take what they learned with them back in the program to their communities and be empowered to pursue careers in allied health.
Frida Gonzalez, a nursing student at Cypress Community College, said that she learned a lot of helpful coping mechanisms such as meditation and yoga while taking Gould’s class in order to relieve temporary stress. However, she also became aware of more subtle aspects of her mental wellness, which Gould thinks is a crucial stepping stone for those that are eager to forge more wholesome relationships with their minds.
Although the process itself is not easy and requires constant commitment, Gould believes that it is imperative for individuals to put in the hard work.
“From struggle emerges perspective, and with perspective we derive hope,” said Gould.