A Mental Health Catastrophe within the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every member of society. COVID-19 forced the country to shut down, and social distancing and isolation became the new normal. For the first time, many people were forced to be completely alone, forced into isolation away from friends, family, and love ones in order to lessen the spread of COVID-19. This exhibit shares the stories of how individuals dealt with the bleakness of isolation during the pandemic. 

Lockdown Troubles

" Our regular life stopped for a long time, and it took a toll on us with the huge change."

Rural Arizonans gain more access to mental health resources, but only if they have an internet connection

"Individuals in rural Arizona have more access to mental health resources than before. But only if they have the right equipment. "

The pandemic has not been easy for anyone, especially students who sudenly have to stay at home with little structurem and without being able to see their friends and other family members. However, thoughout lockdown and working from home, some ways people cope with the pandemic has ranged from adopting a pet, connecting with the outdoors, and finding new hobbies and self reflection are some of the ways people improved their mental wellbeing and alleviated stress during the pandemic. 

Below are listed some collections of stories documenting how people dealt with isolation and the pandemic. 

This exhibit was curated by Weston Weisensel, an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire , as part of an internship with A Journal of the Plague Year: An Archive of COVID-19.