On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, hit the campaign trail in Arizona, where they described the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election as the “most important election of our nation’s lifetime.” ABC News Presidential Historian, Mark Updegrove, reiterated the importance of this election season, calling it “the most important election of my lifetime.” Updegrove went on to call it the “most important since 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected to the precedence and the fate of the country was in the balance.”
Similar statements have been made by many notable names in politics. The importance of this upcoming election is something that everyone, regardless of political affiliation, seems to agree on. As Americans gear up to head to the polls, there is a lot of attention being placed on first-time voters, specifically those on college campuses all across the country. A study of the 2020 election conducted at Tufts University found that the national student voting rate during the 2020 election was 66%. This is up 14 percentage points, from the 52% voting rate during the 2016 election. In addition to this, voter turnout amongst college-age students increased by double-digit percentage points, primarily driven by younger students who were voting in their first presidential election.
The notion that the fate of the United States is at stake seems to be the common theme that ties together the last couple of presidential elections. And as we approach election day once again, it feels as though this election season has been no different. It seems as though this election is of vital importance, regardless of people's political affiliation. Though we can acknowledge that all elections are important, it seems like the 2024 Presidential Election is being regarded as one of particular importance. With this added emphasis comes the importance of voters' decisions. For college students looking to vote in this upcoming election, the idea of this election's importance can yield a negative impact on students' mental health.
As a student in Washington DC, I have been able to see some of the impact this election year is having on college students. Here at Georgetown, students have had the privilege of being able to hear from major political figures. In these past months, students have welcomed the 2016 Democratic Party Presidential Nominee, Hillary Clinton, to campus to present the 2024 Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards. Additionally, we welcomed the former 2024 Rep. Presidential Candidate, Nikki Haley, to campus. Students also receive emails encouraging them to vote before voting deadlines, depending on their home state.
While this can make the voting process more accessible for students, all of these factors provide students with a constant reminder that 2024 is an election year, for better or for worse. However, for many students, it can be difficult to find a space to take a break from all of these constant reminders.
This is something that is beginning to be noticed on college campuses all across the country. According to a study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 70% of adult Americans claimed that the 2024 Presidential Election is a significant source of stress in their lives. To combat the build-up of such stress, in addition to the already busy lives of college students, there have been recent pushes to get students to focus on their mental and physical health in the days leading up to and following November 5th.
Katherine Marshall Woods, Psy.D, an Assistant Professor at George Washington University, encouraged students to determine and seek whatever they may need to feel healthy. In an interview with GW Today, Woods reminded students that we can only properly engage in events like the election “if we’re healthy enough for them.” MSU Today recently released an article encouraging mindful practices from its students amidst the stresses of the election cycle. Jonathan Novello, the Director of University Health and Wellbeing Employee Assistance Program at Michigan State University, states that “ while we can’t control what others think, we can limit the time we spend talking about certain topics.”
The theme of being able to “disconnect” from the election, both online and in in-person social settings, is one that so many administrators are encouraging students to practice as the nation prepares to head to the polls. College students are realizing that this is a big issue that they are facing, and they are finding creative and helpful ways to help others take care of themselves.
Given what I have observed and what I have read from other students, I believe that there are three very important ways that students can improve and protect their mental health in the coming days:
1. Recognize your consumption limits
It is impossible to avoid interacting with the 2024 Election, given the “wall-to-wall” nature of its coverage. However, it is important to know when you should engage in something else. Everyone has their limits to how much content related to one topic can be healthily consumed in one day. Make sure that you are recognizing your limits and respecting them. Overconsumption or hyper-interaction with the election is a large source of stress that can be avoided by knowing when you’ve seen enough.
2. Have conversations about what might be bothering you
While speaking about political views can yield negative side effects, if you have access to an environment where you feel safe enough to share your opinion, do so. Studies have shown that being able to share your pent-up feelings in conversations with trusted friends or friends yields positive results on mental health outcomes. As social media is on the rise, some have turned to social media groups to find these safe spaces to share their feelings. So long as this is done in a safe and respectful manner, this can be an important resource for students who may feel more comfortable engaging in such conversations in the virtual setting.
3. Find time to engage in your favorite hobbies and pastimes
Participate in activities that do not revolve around politics or the election. Applying the concept of “disconnecting”, you should seek ways to engage in activities that are not related to politics. Enjoy the outdoors, see a movie, or try the activity that you’ve been putting off for a while. All of these are great ways to effectively remove yourself from a stressor for a while. Chances are, you may learn something new about yourself by doing so.
Nestory Ngolle is a pre-medical student at Georgetown University studying Biology of Global Health with a minor in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. He is a member of the Council on Student Wellbeing.