Combating coronavirus blues: a loneliness pandemic in the making

By Bethany Robson

We’d dreamed of an extended break away from the office or lecture halls; we’d joked about it enough with our colleagues! But we’d never quite anticipated it not only being so serious and lasting so long but having to go through it completely alone. To make matters worse, within a few days the social media posts of families spending time with each other started pouring onto our feeds reminding us of how lonely this period of isolation was going to get.

Loneliness is its own beast; as if fighting off the coronavirus isn’t enough of a challenge! We’ve had the knowledge of chronic loneliness in the elderly community for years, and only now are we really getting a taste of what it’s like to be properly alone. For those most vulnerable in society, including the elderly, the chronically ill, and the pregnant, this period of isolation could last more than three months. Subsequently, experts in their droves are warning us about the consequences of being in isolation for so long, and how it will eventually affect our mental health.

Working in student media, I’ve become used to the hustle and bustle of a busy, and slightly chaotic, office. With people darting in and out between lectures, it’s safe to say that I never felt alone for very long. This is in glaring contrast to my quiet bedroom that I now work from. The transition hasn’t been as smooth as I’d thought, and I’ve found myself sometimes struggling with having to work alone when I’ve become so accustomed to working with lots of people. As many of us transition into working-from-home, we need to be honest now more than ever, about how we’re feeling.