Depression & Anxiety,
the ignored Side Effects of COVID
Depression and anxiety have been the most impactful, mental health disorders since the pandemic started. People are scared of losing their jobs, getting infected, not having a enough food, and even afraid of dying.
These mental disorders not only affect adults, but also students. Since the pandemic began students had to face changes and rearrange their daily routines. School is now online, they have to limit interactions with friends, and they have to stay home unless it’s urgent. This has affected students since school has been online for what seems like forever now and can't replicate face to face learning. It can become stressful for students without in person interaction with teachers. Also, many students don't have a quiet environment to work in. Like many students, they must share a room with their sibling, making it more difficult for them to comprehend their work. Many students are social, since the pandemic we are unable to socialize as much, leading more students to depression.
Students do not need to feel alone with their feelings, but unfortunately, they do feel alone. “This quarantine has definitely focused a lot on the depression and anxiety [brought] from these tough times. At the beginning of quarantine, I would get anxious thinking about what our world was going to look like. Was my family safe, and would my parents still have a job?,” said Olympian Katie Calderon.
Like other students from Leuzinger, Katie Calderon found her own way to help with her anxiety. She mentions how she has, “to overcome the obstacles of anxiety by taking time to just breathe and have time to enjoy myself.” Calderon suggests that fellow Olympians to do meditation, go for a walk, and do things they enjoy. “ When it comes to being quarantined, I feel like these feelings can be exemplified especially since we’re all lonely and have a lot of time for self-reflection," she said.
Daniela Salazar also feels that the stay at home orders have negatively affected students. "Being alone has brought many students loneliness during these hard times. Because of it, many have fallen into depression and has led to anxiety from being clamped up in our home.
The Wellness Center says that the 2020 - 2021 school year is the year where it has a lot of referrals from students seeking help. Ms. Lopez, the school social worker at the Wellness Center, says that most students are scared to reach out and seek the help they need or they don’t know the school can help them. She recommends having teachers take around 5 to 10 minutes and ask how students are feeling. This way teachers can recommend those students and seek the help they need. Also, students should know some coping skill which decreases the likeness to feel depressed or anxious. If you ever feel any of the symptoms or just wanted to talk to someone she is there for you. Her email is lopezb@centinela.k12.ca.us and if you want to learn more about the resources available at the Wellness Center see the center's Canvas page at this link:
https://centinela.instructure.com/courses/11270/pages/wellness-center. We also included all the hotlines if you feel like you just can't control it and need someone to talk to immediately.
Suicide Hotline: 800-784-2433
Immediate Medical Assistance: 911
Crisis Call Center: 800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863
Crisis Text Line (U.S. only): Text HELLO to 741741
Youth Space Text Line (across Canada): Text 778-783-0177 from 6 p.m. to midnight daily.
Staff Writers
Jesus Ruiz, Madalyn Corral & Adriana Rodriguez Cordero
MCA Photos by Jossue Barajas
Sophia Barajas has also started a habit of biting their nails in order to cope with their anxiety. Photo by Jossue Barajas
Sophia Barajas sits alone in a room after a long day of school and homework. Photo by Jossue Barajas