By Simone Limbu, Maria Wasag and Agnese Ratniece
Moving to a new country is difficult enough, but it becomes even more difficult during a Covid pandemic. For Inga Jekel, 21, a University of London student, the excitement of moving abroad to begin a new chapter in her life was met with unexpected anxiety and depression.
“It was my first big move, I wasn’t used to the English language and I didn’t have many friends, which made me feel lonely for the first few weeks,” said Jekel, a first-year law student who moved to London for new opportunities and to meet more open-minded people with different perspectives.
According to the Office of National Statistics 2021, young adults and adults aged 16 to 39 experienced a more than double increase in depression symptoms, rising from 11% to 29% during the pandemic.
Jekel, a member of Poland’s national rowing team, was one of the young adults whose mental health deteriorated during the pandemic. She said: “As an athlete, I was told to be strong and indestructible, but I couldn’t figure out why my body was reacting differently; all I wanted to do was sleep and eat more, and I gained 5 kg during the pandemic.
“It had a really negative impact on my mental health, especially after the deaths of my grandparents, who both died of covid,” Jekel said. “I couldn’t even call for food because I was so afraid to talk to anyone.”
On bad days, the law student enjoys listening to music, eating her favourite foods, focusing on her career goals, and spending time with her friends who helped her get through her anxiety and depression during difficult times.
Jekel said: “I’d never sought professional help on my own, but I’ve been reading a lot of books about mental health and attending group sessions with a psychologist from my sport. However, I have friends who will always listen to me.”
Milda Prielgauskaite, 21, Marketing Communication and PR student at London Metropolitan University, said moving to another country made her feel like a grown-up who had to make her own decisions and choices. “I try to go to the gym and exercise; for me, it’s the best way to get rid of low emotions and when I’m stressed,” she said.
Jekel advises students who are relocating to a foreign country to remain calm, meet as many people as possible, step outside of their comfort zone, be confident, do not be afraid to explore the new city on their own and try to live their lives to the fullest.
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