Happiness 101: the effect of current affairs on mental health

Taking a break while living in a restless world.

Source: Unsplash

This year has been a whirlwind of trying episodes that range from the Covid-19 pandemic to police brutality, numerous terrorist attacks, plenty of tragedies, nerve-racking elections, and political turmoil all over the world. The only word I can think of to describe 2020 is “chaotic”. When uncertainty becomes the dominant force in society and social unrest seems to be at its peak, high-stress-related mental health issues are bound to threaten people’s wellbeing and unsettle minds. Whether you are feeling angry, revolted, overwhelmed, or worried as a consequence of the societal and political distress caused by recent events, your feelings are more than valid and it is important to acknowledge them and learn how to work with them.

Societal and political distress

In 2020 people have become addicted to bad news, as we are on constant vigil for the next crisis. I myself have fallen victim to what has recently been defined as “doomsurfing” or “doomscrolling” (depending on your platform of choice). How do I know if I am a doomsurfer, you may ask? Symptoms include excessively refreshing social media, obsessively checking the news in a desperate search for a shred of clarity, or emotionally explaining the latest data on [insert 2020 event here] to anybody who will listen. If you have checked some or all of these symptoms, congratulations! You are a doomsurfer. The overconsumption of media is nothing new, however, as Angela Watercutter from Wired puts it, “it used to be that Sunday nights in bed were spent digging through Twitter for Game of Thrones hot takes, or armchair quarterbacking the day’s game. Now, the only thing to binge-watch is the world's collapse into crisis.” 

These negative behaviors are sparked by feelings of uncertainty that have overwhelmed the whole world. Be it social inequalities, Brexit, the pandemic, or the recent U.S. presidential election, what they all have in common is that they cause unpredictability and uproar. Dr. Tania Israel, a professor of counseling psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, adds that “uncertainty is stressful - the election, the global pandemic, and social unrest are all adding to a sense of uncertainty in our lives.”

Effects on body and mind 

This constant state of agitation is without a doubt affecting our mental health, as studies have shown that it can lead to crisis fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Patricia Harrison-Monroe, the vice-chair of the UA Department of Psychiatry in the College of Medicine, explains that “while low or moderate levels of stress can actually be energizing and motivate us to want to complete projects or achieve goals, excessive stress definitely has a negative impact — emotionally and physically — and can include things like excessive worrying, irritability and sadness or hopelessness.” And when you are feeling stressed or anxious, your brain is secreting cortisol, a hormone that mediates the stress response. This can lead to headaches, insomnia, and a weakened immune system, among other things. 

Solutions 

When the unknowns outnumber the knowns, it is important to look within, and actively start seeking ways to nurture your mental health. This way, you prevent negative thoughts and behaviors from scarring your wellbeing and physical health. Be mindful of the type and amount of news you consume. You might want to monitor the effect of news on your mental health and reduce the intake if necessary, as well as trying to find reliable and unbiased sources. Cortisol is supposed to dip at night, so avoiding the news in the evening can improve your sleep which in turn makes you more resilient to stress. It has also been proven that engaging with your communities and experiencing social interaction is beneficial. Because of the pandemic, this has become a challenge, but options do exist and you can look for an online volunteering position if you go to UCL’s volunteering directory. The most important thing, however, is to look out for one another. Be kind(er) - you never know what someone could be going through, and try to understand where people are coming from and why they are acting the way they do. Even in our own little microcosm here at UCL, we can find support in one another. 

Resources 

If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out. There are plenty of resources that help. 

UCL Student Support and Wellbeing:  

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/student-support-and-wellbeing

NHS Resources: 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/

This article is published as part of the Happiness 101 series, written by Pi Media columnist Sorana Bucseneanu.