Quarantine Life & Privilege

by Neil Rios

The year 2020 is not what any of us pictured it to be. With the new laws that give us no choice but to stay home for the well-being of others, it has caused concern for the mental health of people who are not experiencing a healthy quarantine.

For those who have the privilege of having their own healthy space and have no financial concerns, it’s not so bad. However, we haven’t discussed those who are stuck home in an unsafe space and are figuring out how to financially survive. The world seems to be focusing on helping decrease the spread of the virus which makes sense. But, as states across the US begin to reopen, there are still a lot of people, especially youth, who are stuck at home because they can’t go to school or find a job. Not to mention the unemployment system that has left many without financial support.

When looking down at the rest of the year, it all seems unpredictable. Schools K-12 and colleges still have not decided whether they will be opening again this fall and many businesses are struggling to stay alive. So how is quarantine affecting the mental health of people?

According to a survey conducted online by JUV Consulting by 1,000 participants ages 14–24, 81% of survey respondents are feeling more anxious about the future in comparison to how they felt before the pandemic. I personally am included in that statistic as a graduating senior in college. A lot of us are wondering what the near future has for us and for our careers.

On top of everything, there are celebrities and influencers who have been sharing their experience during quarantine to “encourage” us to stay home by showing us their luxurious uncommon lifestyle. What they don’t know is that it is hard to relate to their experience because not everyone has the same healthy space and financial security to be at mental peace during the quarantine. Not everyone is that unempathetic though, last week my childhood icon, Miley Cyrus, spoke up about this concern. She tweeted “I am comfortable and financially stable and that’s not just the story for a lot of people, doesn’t feel right for celebs to share our experience because it just doesn’t compare.” Thank you, Miley! We appreciate you for acknowledging your privilege.

It’s so important to emphasize that quarantine has not been pleasant for a lot of people. For many, the only escape they had from a toxic environment at home was going to school or to work. For many, playing a sport or being active in the community was the way to keep their minds busy and engaged. For a lot of students online classes are not easier. And for families and loved ones, it has taken an emotional toll not being able to see their family members or simply have a human connection.

We are all experiencing quarantine differently and it’s important to be aware that COVID-19 has brought us mental health concerns that need to be discussed and approached properly. We don’t know when this will all end, but adapting to this new reality has become a challenge that I know we can all overcome.

About the Author:

Neil Rios Laverde migrated with his family from Colombia when he was 8 years old in search of better opportunities. Neil is now a senior at the University of Central Florida majoring in advertising and public relations. He plans on applying the skills he has learned to bring positive messaging and relationships to the Latinx and LGBT+ communities.

He has worked with LGBT+ organizations in Orlando such as Equality Florida, The Dru Project, and The LGBT Center of Central Florida. Neil also interned abroad for the marketing team of a non-profit in Colombia the summer of 2017. He is currently interning for the marketing team at Moxē, a local advertising and PR agency.