Analysis: A story of campus consensus, in support of student mental health

The pandemic didn’t create new mental health issues on campus, says Matt Niece, Boise State University’s director of counseling services. Instead, the pandemic intensified existing issues, such as anxiety, depression and trauma. Loneliness and homesickness — already a priority for Boise State counselors, pre-COVID — only became worse. Students felt physically alone, and isolated in a polarized, politicized climate. “People are a lot more reluctant to be vulnerable because everyone’s walking around with their gloves up,” Niece said.