28 | NOVEMBER 19 • 2020 

A

s University of 
Michigan students, 
we have experienced 
many stressors driven by the 
pandemic including the adjust-
ment to online school, cancel-
lations of milestones and loss 
of various experiences. 
 We are Sarah Wish — a 
University of Michigan senior 
from New Jersey who was 
abruptly sent home from 
her study abroad program 
in Denmark — and Marissa 
Levey — a recent University 
of Michigan graduate who lost 
her last two months of senior 
year including her graduation.

Through our own research 
and conversations with 
students, we realized that 
students everywhere were 
struggling. With no central-
ized resource to specifically 
support students, students did 
not have a way to navigate 
the constant influx of news 

and spread of misinformation 
during this time. We decid-
ed to create an Instagram 
account — sponsored by New 
York City-based Mount Sinai 
Health System — dedicated 
to supporting students during 
the pandemic.
The Instagram account,
@covid19studentsupport, is a 
platform committed to sup-
porting students, by students, 
during the pandemic. Even 
though we are U-M students 
from New Jersey, our content 
is geared to support all stu-
dents of all backgrounds from 
all campuses during these hard 
times. We aim to share scien-
tific evidence-based COVID-
19 information, to support 
student mental and physical 
well-being, and to address 
common student questions 
and concerns about the virus. 
We hope this account gives 

students a way to navigate 
this trying and unprecedented 
time, by acknowledging the 
challenges our peers are facing 
and promoting ways to cope 
with these difficulties. 
We aim to specifically 
address the unique stressors 
this demographic faces with 
content geared toward all stu-
dents and young adults. Our 
account provides mental and 
physical health support, with 
posts about telemedicine ser-
vices, destigmatizing mental 
illness, and free resources for 
improved sleep and physical 
activity, just to name a few. 
We also share unique ways to 
connect with loved ones who 
are physically distanced, such 
as virtual games to play and 
virtual date ideas. 
Additionally, we promote 
ways to shape our individ-
ual perspectives on the cir-

cumstances impacting our 
age demographic, including 
the cancellation of summer 
internships or the uncertain-
ty about the pandemic. We 
also post funny an d relatable 
tweets and memes each week 
— because we all need come-
dic relief.
We are so grateful for the 
success of our account thus 
far. With more than 2,000 fol-
lowers, our content has gener-
ated support from numerous 
colleges, health professionals 
and Hillels across the country. 
If you’
re a student or young 
adult interested in learning 
how to support their mental 
and physical wellbeing in 
quarantine, give us a follow 
@covid19studentsupport on 
Instagram! Everyone is strug-
gling in their own ways, but 
know you are not alone in 
facing these challenges. @

Two Jewish U-M students start Instagram account dedicated 
to supporting students during the COVID-19 crisis.

Sarah Wish & Marissa Levey } jewish@edu writers

Supporting
Each Other

Sarah Wish
Marissa Levey

for college students 
by college students