Youths stressed out by pandemic
Loss of work, inability to mingle with friends and struggling with online learning among woes precipitated by Covid-19 lockdown
PETALING JAYA: The absence of social interaction, concerns about the future and loneliness have combined to heighten the stress level for the younger generation as the country continues its fight against Covid-19.
It was not too long ago when the world was at their feet, where new and exciting challenges lay ahead. There were new experiences to be gained. Most of all, the prospect of achieving financial independence was there for the taking.
But all that came to an abrubt halt in March as the country went into lockdown to address the rapid spread of Covid-19.
For management and science university student NurFatin Hazimah Muhammad Imran, the loss of personal life outside her home was like losing one’s purpose in life.
“Everything seems
to
have become stagnant, and it’s extremely boring,” she told theSun yesterday.
“I do not see my friends that often anymore, and online classes are not as easy as people make it sound,” she lamented.
To make things worse, NurFatin lost her part-time job that was paying her varsity fees and other personal expenses.
“It has been difficult for my parents. My father is the sole breadwinner for the six of us in the family,” she said, adding it has been a mental strain for her.
Sassvini Gurunathan was looking forward to becoming financially independent after she graduated recently.
She even landed a part-time job as a content writer, but that was as far as she got.
The Covid-19 outbreak and the movement control order put in place effectively curtailed her prospects of acheiving greater things.
“To survive, I am still depending on my parents for pocket money,” she said.
Having to stop visiting her friends every month like she used to has also been heartbreaking.
Conference producer Karishma K.Rajinthran said young people are already dealing with mental issues on a regular basis and the Covid-19 pandemic has only exacerbated it.
“I have seen my friends’ mental health deteriorate,” she said.
Karishma had to take a 50% pay cut and was forced to work from home under the standard operating procedures set by her employer.
“Home is not an ideal workplace. I can’t be as effective,” she added.
But there was also a silver lining. Karishma found more time to venture into new hobbies and discovered some hidden talents.
“I have started painting and widened my taste in music as it helps me escape my mundane lifestyle,” she said.
It has been a depressing few months for Universiti Sains Malaysia graduate Adriel Ng Jie Hao, but it has also been a time for reflection.
“I now realise that you never know what you have until you lose it. During the good times, we forget the weak but at such times, we begin to miss those we cherish most,” he said.
Unlike others, financial independence is not an issue for Ng.
“I spend so much less on transportation now, and entertainment expenses are practically non-existent,” he added.