Existential themes of the 2020s syndemic polycrisis

Abstract

The coronavirus and anti-Black racial violence dual pandemics of the early 2020s brought multiple existential concerns that aligned with the four existential givens of human experience, namely, life and death anxiety, community and isolation, meaning-making and absurdity, freedom of choice and responsibility compared to determinism, and existential guilt and shattering. These themes are examined through an analysis and summary of the seven articles included in this special issue. These seven articles substantiate a need for further research and widely implemented interventions that emphasize culturally affirming and sustaining humanistic and existential counseling practices paired with advocacy for systemic change that enhances community solidarity alongside meaning-making and identity preservation. This approach aims to support people from marginalized communities in navigating compounded challenges during dual crises such as the early 2020s syndemic polycrisis.