CHANGES DURING COVID

In America, 1 of 3 people have lost a loved one to COVID-19. The unmeasurable feeling of loss has been universal since the initial outbreak swept the globe and has shifted our relationship with the outside world.

The first coronavirus case in the U.S. was declared on the last day of February 2020. Not long after, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a statewide lockdown, closing the doors to all public gatherings and services to reduce the spread of the virus.

Consequently, the effects of the pandemic have crept into every corner of our lives, changing how we work, socialize, study, and even changing how we grieve.

Brian Y. Louie, a MHCC Funeral Services student and the scheduler for the program’s annual mock arrangements event, described caring for the grieving during the pandemic. (The event matches students who walk “clients” through realistic funeral preparations.) He said the program had “more people interested in making arrangements this year than ever before,” reaching outside of Oregon to serve clients from other states.

With the accessibility of virtual meetings, mock funeral clients were able to meet with students via Zoom or Facetime. When asked if this hindered the ability to comfort the students’ clients Louie said, “Just being able to see another person does so much to convey empathy.”

Studies show that Louie’s assumption of the importance of face-to-face interaction is accurate. “Empathy Needs A Face,” a research study conducted by Jonathan Cole, author and visiting professor of clinical neurophysiology at Bournemouth University, suggests that “empathy itself is supported by, and requires, the embodied expression and communication of emotion that the face provides.”

Collectively, our screen time increased to combat the loneliness associated with the new social isolation and aided in maintaining safe distances. We’ve stayed connected in deeper ways during challenging times and celebrations alike during state-mandated lockdowns and social distancing. Good thing, because social isolation is associated with risks to our physical and mental health according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

Quickly, online platforms became an essential resource for work and education – including, of course, at MHCC. Over 1,000 college campuses transitioned to remote learning in the U.S. after campus closures. Students and faculty alike roughly transitioned into distanced education.

Younger, grades K-12 students were set back in their educational year, while most teens experienced a loss in milestones, missing prom and graduations. College attendees struggled to stay engaged, with declining GPAs a common result.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 3.6% decrease in enrollment by first-year higher education students (Mt. Hood suffering a more severe 15% overall enrollment drop). Students cite a lack of self-motivation required to maintain productivity and passing grades with the online platform.

In addition to the mental hurdles, many students struggled with college tuition fees as COVID-19 affected the economy, and their employment and/or income.

Business owners paused operations and lost significant revenue, many permanently closing their doors. In cities such as Portland, the culinary landscape responsible for accruing tourism has seen major losses, with an unpredictable future.

However, no loss can equate to the loss of a loved one – something experienced by millions of Americans, and the world’s population.

All these changes affected our mental health and productivity while various people saw this year as an opportunity to become adaptive. Amid the crisis, challenges and opportunities arose – more time to experiment with new skills after a year of isolation and forced downtime. Many people experienced an increase in personal growth and a renewed appreciation for the outside world. Our homes became gyms, offices, classrooms and bakeries.

A great uncertainty has accompanied the pandemic, with the unknown to what, or when, the outcome would be.

Each person experiencing the pandemic has survived in ways unique to their situation. And our post-COVID world will be undoubtedly different from the world before the global pandemic that kept us in our homes.