Video: Calgary Journal reporter Laila Malik reports on the mental health toll of global conflict
In the era of globalization, as contemporary media continues to grow, more than half of the world’s population uses social media.
For many students, social media has become part of their daily routine.
Within seconds of opening an app, students are exposed to news from around the world through posts, images and videos.
“Every time I get on Instagram, I’m introduced to something very gruesome happening to a child,” said Sana Alsaidi, a fourth-year chemistry student at MRU.
Feeling helpless in the face of violence online
For many Calgary students, conflicts around the world leave a lasting mark, often creating a mix of emotions. Alsaidi, being one of them, says she often feels helpless when watching such videos online.
“I try to help, but it feels like I’m not directly helping, because I’m not there, it’s hard to think, ‘Is what I’m doing now, at school, or when I try to talk about it, is that enough?’” wondered Alsaidi.
Nili Gandhi, a first-year data science student, says the situation in Gaza leaves her feeling distressed.
“How the world can be okay with doing such injustice?” asked Gandhi.
Awareness as purpose
But for students like Abdullah Ozair, a fourth-year marketing student, global awareness of such events can serve as a source of motivation.
“In a globalized world, your connection to some child in Africa or somebody in Spain…oftentimes it’s the clothes that I wear that are produced by some sweatshop worker somewhere, and I don’t even realize that,” said Ozair.
Eesha Haris, a third-year business student, says she wishes there were more conversations about how to cope with the emotional stress.
“People don’t really talk about how to feel or how to deal with watching these sad videos, even the stuff that’s happening in Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine and all those countries. I feel really upset, but I don’t know how to deal with it,” said Haris.
Experts promote self-care and support
Dr. Anne McLean, a family physician from the MRU Wellness Centre and Health Services Clinic, said the more mental load students carry, the harder it becomes to manage school stress.
“It’s not that there is this one stress which is discrete and in its own box, and then there’s this other stress; we only have one brain, so all of the stress layers into each other,” said McLean.
She said setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and taking effective action can help students manage stress related to political events they cannot directly change.
“Setting a limit on how much time you’re going to spend reading the news, finding ways to catch yourself when you doom scroll and redirect yourself into something that is going to be better for your mental wellbeing,” said McLean. “Being aware of the things and sometimes the people in your environment that tend to raise your anxiety around things that you don’t have any control over.”
McLean emphasized the importance of self-care, whether through exercise to get the heart and body moving, spending time outside and breathing in the fresh air and sunshine, engaging in creative activities, or expressing emotions and perspectives through writing, art, or crafting.
“What positive things do you do during your day to look after yourself and improve your wellbeing… the more you’re able to do something that makes you feel like you have an impact on the situation, the better your resilience towards that stress,” added McLean.
Students struggling with mental health concerns can access support through MRU’s Mental Health Resources, including student counselling, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, and physicians.