Instead of having the opportunity to take a few days off from classes to simply relax and enjoy the spring air, students have had to endure the semester without any breaks.Â
In an effort to compensate for the lack of a spring break, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Big Red Resilience & Well-being held a Spring Breakout festival on March 29 where students had a few hours to enjoy a festival at the Nebraska Union Plaza.Â
Although some people were able to attend the event and relax for a while, other students did not have the opportunity to be there. Classes were not canceled that day, so students would not have been able to attend if they had class at that time.Â
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in people developing eating disorders and other eating related issues, according to Hartford HealthCare.
Jenifer Manstedt, counselor at Counseling & Psychological Services and eating disorder coordinator, said she has noticed more University of Nebraska-Lincoln students reporting concerns with eating patterns and body image issues during the COVID-19 pandemic than prior to the pandemic.Â
Indicated through CCAPS, forms that CAPS utilize to assess certain distress levels, there has been a slight increase overall with eating concerns, according to Manstedt.
Manstedt said the pandemic has increased isolation among people, which has either worsened pre-existing eating disorders or increased worry about food consumption and body image issues. The increased isolation has also increased access and time spent on social media, which can increase thoughts or worries about eating patterns or body image related concerns as well, accor