COVID-19 prompts loneliness and hardships amongst Japan’s college students

COVID-19 has caused sickness, suffering and death in Japan and worldwide. Both the coronavirus itself and efforts to contain it have impacted several areas of society. The pandemic has caused major lifestyle changes and economic damage, with many people losing businesses, jobs and professional opportunities.

Mental health has also been affected. Policies and personal choices that limit contact with others to stop the spread of the coronavirus have led to loneliness and isolation. This is especially true with university students in Japan.

College life with COVID more than disappointing

The pandemic became worse in Japan just as the spring 2020 semester started. Japan’s first state of emergency declaration caused some colleges to delay their semester start. When the state of emergency ended, students found themselves starting a university life far different than what they had imagined.

Many schools switched to online learning and canceled and restricted events, including opening ceremonies and chances for new students to meet each other. Even in cases where events and clubs are allowed to be held, fear of being infected and testing positive can cause some students to refrain from participating. Students have increasingly felt a sense of isolation and even depression as a result of such decisions.

More and more students feeling depressed

Well-known schools such as Akita University and Kyushu University have conducted surveys to understand what their students are going through. In an Akita University survey, 11.5% of female students and 10.3% of male students reported feeling more than moderate depressive symptoms. Over 40% of participants in a Kyushu University survey answered that they felt lonely or depressed.

Kyushu University was one of many schools that switched to online classes and restricted campus entry and club activities. Early on in the spring 2020 semester, many students had not even set foot on campus once, with many of them living outside of Fukuoka Prefecture, where the school is located.

This situation is not unusual for university students across Japan. It can be particularly hard for first-year students who have just moved from their hometowns and may not have robust support networks. Those attending college before COVID-19 hit also face impacts on their academic and professional opportunities.

Japan must deal with the loneliness challenge innovatively

There are counseling services available for those who need help. Some universities offer their own services for students who are struggling. Schools like Nagoya University are taking advantage of social media. Their student support center offers a radio show on Youtube called Counselor X to get people through this difficult time. Chat services, including Anata no Ibasho, or your place to belong in Japanese, give users a way to vent or seek advice anonymously. For English speakers, TELL and other services aimed at Japan’s international population may also prove useful.

【孤独は自己責任じゃない】

日本では、孤独は自己責任だと考えられる傾向があります。
しかし、あなたが感じる望まない孤独は、決してあなたの責任ではありません。
つらい時は遠慮せず、周りの人やあなたのいばしょに相談してください。https://t.co/31kDkhqRV0#あなたのいばしょ　#孤独 pic.twitter.com/AlOHHQYKl3

— あなたのいばしょ (@ibashochat) August 24, 2021

Restrictions and policies have been necessary to some extent to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The loneliness that Japanese college students feel, however, is one example that shows these decisions are not completely without consequence. While we make sacrifices and adjustments to save others, we must also not discount the effects of loneliness and mental health issues. The World Health Organization defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The difficulties that Japanese college students have experienced show that support, empathy and compassion are just as vital during a pandemic as stopping the spread of a disease.