When the new lockdown came into effect in November and students were stuck in their rooms once again, it quickly became clear that something had to be done to support them. Margriet Schreuders, director of the Student Services Centre, and her colleagues understood this as well as anyone. Research by Trimbos, RIVM GGD and GHOR shows that the corona crisis has led to increased loneliness and depressive feelings among young people, including students. “We want to help students who can no longer manage on their own, who feel trapped between four walls and who have been struggling with loneliness and a lack of perspective for two years now,” Schreuders says.

The SSC has long offered a range of initiatives to enhance student wellbeing. UM places great value on assisting students in need of a helping hand to regain control of their lives. “That offer remains in place, but has been expanded during the pandemic,” Schreuders says. “The Wellbeing Movement now offers workshops for students on coping with adversity. And we work closely with parties affiliated to UM that share our wellbeing philosophy, such as the student chaplaincy InnBetween, @ease, where you can always go for a chat, and the UM Community, where you can get together with other students.”

Cooperation

During the lockdown, the university also cooperated closely with the student associations. “Student associations form a kind of cocoon around UM and can provide support and guidance to members during this difficult period. Because they were forced to close during the lockdown—they’re officially part of the hospitality sector—we invited them to organise activities in the rooms of the student psychologists department, with students in face masks at a safe distance from one another. This way, they could reach out to members who were struggling. And our health counsellor supported them when they had questions about how to handle specific welfare problems among their members. Given the importance of peer support, this was invaluable. Seeking low-threshold help from someone on your level is easier than going to a psychologist. For the same reason, there are now stands in the UL where students can knock on the door of other students, so to speak. You can talk about personal concerns as well as career-related problems. And various UM locations now have a Mindfulnest: a stimulus-free space where you can retreat for a moment of rest or meditation.”

Sense of belonging

“Studies on young people’s wellbeing show a lack of a sense of belonging during the corona period. This sense of belonging is crucial for your overall wellbeing. Normally you create a community in which you feel connected to your fellow students, your teachers, perhaps even psychologists if you happen to need them. This community helps you feel comfortable, ensures that you can handle the occasional setback and helps to combat loneliness. Building such a community during the lockdown was very difficult for students—not just here at UM, but at all universities.”