The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly led to a reduction in our ability to connect socially with one another. Although we are lucky to have other ways of communicating with our family and friends, such as by phone or online video-conferencing, this represents a significant change from what most people are accustomed to. Once you consider the extended period of reduced social contact, we have understandably begun to witness the phenomenon of ‘Covid fatigue’. A lack of social connection has also led to negative effects on many persons’ mental health. 

What do we know about the effects of Covid-19 on social wellbeing? 

Shortly after the start of the pandemic, the Faculty for Social Wellbeing began conducting research in order to understand the psychological effects of Covid-19 on the Maltese population. One of these research projects looked into the fear of Covid-19 amongst students enrolled at the University of Malta, whilst also investigating how this fear was impacting students’ wellbeing. 

The data obtained from this study provided a number of insights into how the pandemic was affecting students. A substantial proportion of the students who responded to the survey reported that the pandemic had caused them to have increased feelings of nervousness, exhaustion, loneliness, depression, and anger. 

Another study carried out in 2020 by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing obtained data about loneliness in the general population. The findings from this study revealed the great extent to which levels of loneliness increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data from a similar study in 2019 revealed that just over 40% of the population experienced some form of loneliness, whilst this figure shot up to over 90% in 2020. 

To further emphasize the psychological impact of the pandemic, data from the Richmond Foundation revealed that a worrying 16% of people aged between 16 and 24 reported that they had regularly thought about suicide in December of last year. The Foundation also reported a 400% increase in calls to their helpline during the last nine months of 2020, with many persons experiencing concerns about their mental health. 

Where do we go from here?

Although some may consider it obvious that the pandemic has resulted in detrimental effects to people’s psychological wellbeing, it is nonetheless important to know the extent of any issues which have occurred. In particular, through the collection of empirical data, this provides a starting point for proposing policy recommendations to address the situation. Such empirical data also enables future research to be in a position to evaluate the progress made with regards to the resulting psychological issues from the pandemic. 

For example, the data obtained from studying loneliness has shown that many Maltese people experience a greater degree of emotional loneliness, in comparison to social loneliness. This means that, whilst such people might have a sufficiently large circle of friends and acquaintances, they lack a close friend on whom to call on for emotional support in difficult times. This discrepancy could have been further exacerbated during a pandemic which required a reduction in social contacts with others. It could therefore indicate that, as a society, we need to work on improving the quality, rather than quantity, of our social connections. 

Whilst political leaders are understandably concerned with the economic effects of the pandemic, the Faculty for Social Wellbeing is committed to highlighting the effects that Covid-19 has had on people’s wellbeing. After all, a successful economy is certainly important, but it is only one of the factors that is important for a healthy society. 

The Faculty for Social Wellbeing comprises a diverse group of individuals - academics, administrators, research officers, and students - each with their own specialised areas of expertise and interest. And yet, in spite of this diversity, all those people are ultimately working towards a common goal: to use their skills in order to make a positive contribution to the wellbeing of our society. 

At the present time, there may be a great deal of uncertainty about what the future will hold, about when things will return to normal, about what that ‘new normal’ might look like, amongst other things. Nonetheless, we may take solace in the fact that some things are indeed more certain than others; There are, and will continue to be, many persons in our society who are committed to helping each other so that the future can be a brighter, more positive one. 

Front liners including healthcare professionals, those working in the caring professions, as well as the numerous other individuals have bravely done their part to get us through this pandemic. At the same time, it should also be considered that everyone has their own unique set of capabilities with which to make a valuable contribution to society.  

If you are also interested in contributing towards a better future, why not take the leap of reading for a degree with the Faculty for Social Wellbeing? With a vast variety of courses to choose from, as well as a dedicated team of academics to guide you, chances are that you’ll find the ideal way to channel your personal talents and skills in order to further your potential.

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Jamie Bonnici is a Research Support Officer and visiting lecturer at the Faculty for Social Wellbeing.