College students across the country are battling a surge of loneliness and depression in a space that promised them community. Is a shift in societal values towards hyperindividualism to blame?
In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr.Vivek Murthy announced there was a new epidemic on the rise: loneliness.
“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health,” Murthy said. “Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues.”
College spaces are often praised for their tightly-knit communities that encourage social interaction among students, and with plenty of resources at their disposal, it’s highly anticipated that students will avoid loneliness. However, it seems that this is no longer the case.
In 2021, Boston University compiled a survey that ranged from a multitude of college students across the country as well as focusing individually on students within the institution. They found that 33,000 college students across the country showed signs of anxiety and depression. The survey concluded that two-thirds of Boston University students struggled with loneliness and feelings of isolation.
Declining mental health in young adults and teenagers is nothing new, but the situation has become much more drastic with the effects of loneliness being felt across the board. And changing values towards individualism only adds to the dire situation.
Hyperindividualism is a sociological term, described as “a tendency for people to act in a highly individual way, without regard to society.” U.S. culture prides itself on individualistic ideals such as independence and self-reliance as a means to achieve success, but hyperindividualism takes those sentiments to an extreme.
Humans are social creatures that require connection, but when society pushes a focus on only looking out for one’s self, it abandons our basic needs. This lack of community can be seen across the country, with individuals having fewer and fewer friends or places to go outside of online spaces.
When combining hyperindividualism culture and young college students attempting to find themselves in the world, there becomes room for even more concern. But, maybe the hope is to be found on college campuses.
Surgeon General Murthy tried his best to counteract that through an initiative that encouraged students to take five actions for five days consecutively that either express gratitude, offer support or help others.
While it is uncertain if something like a challenge will increase the need for social connectivity in college culture, it is a step towards potentially addressing the needs of this demographic.
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