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John Fuller
Introduction
COVID-19 is a complex and devastating virus that has shaken society to its core. It has required extensive changes in everyone’s daily lives. For college students, these changes are readily apparent, as learning has become remote, and many students have been forced to move back with their families. For many, the idea of contracting COVID-19 is a terrifying and potentially deadly prospect. While many college students are young, healthy adults that are unlikely to have preexisting conditions that may worsen the symptoms of COVID-19, many of these same students have family or friends that are vulnerable to contracting it. Because of this, many college students have shown increased levels of anxiety and stress, and have been found to fear more for their loved ones, such as parents or grandparents, than they do for themselves (Cohen, et al., 2020). This worry brings about an important question in relation to college students: If we can protect vulnerable populations, would it ultimately lead to less stress and anxiety for college students in regards to COVID-19?
One population in society fits this description has been hit especially hard by this pandemic. A frequently overlooked population, mentally ill older adults, the likes of whom include the parents and grandparents of many college students, must brave tremendous challenges in the wake of COVID-19. Generally, older adults who already suffer from mental illness are already more prone to severe symptoms due to COVID-19, but the challenging stigma around mental health and the availability of virtual health visits has made it even more difficult for these individuals to get the help that they need.
Connection to STS Theory
Social Constructionism, or the idea that reality is jointly constructed by the world due to social and interpersonal experiences, has led to significant social strain on older adults with a mental illness (Galbin, 2014). It is pervasive in many aspects of our society, from the aforementioned increased risk of exposure due to societal neglect, to the societal stigma that contributes to ostracism. Social constructionism explains that the societal view of mental illness is not entirely based on fact, but instead is built upon a vastly complex network of individual perceptions that openly influences others until a societal consensus is built (Galbin, 2014). In other words, it is a slowly built perception that, even if it is not based on truth, influences how society views a particular subject. In the case of mental illness in older adults, this perception has led to a societal stigma that makes it difficult for these individuals to seek the care that they need.
High Risk of Severe Symptoms
Older adults are already disproportionately affected by COVID-19, having exceptionally large morbidity and mortality rates (Vahia, 2020). Having a mental illness, a comorbidity, only exacerbates the risk of severe complications. This elevated risk is attributed to a variety