Victoria Silman | News Editor
Featured image courtesy of Jasmine Wiradharma | Comics Editor
“Bell Let’s Talk” Day was yesterday, and as a community at York, it’s important to look at how we’re moving forward from the mess that is being thrown at us, which began last March.
This past year has been a difficult one for York students. Not only did we endure the longest post-secondary strike in Canadian history, many summer classes were cancelled, students were still finishing their work from the winter term up until December, GO transit and VIVA were kicked off campus, TTC PRESTO fares were approved for a 10-cent increase, and now the provincial government is making changes to OSAP and tuition.
What a mouthful.
Students are busy people with crazy lives, and even crazier schedules. As someone who works two jobs, attends school full-time, tries to maintain relationships, partake in extra-curriculars, and keep my sanity, I completely understand the mental health problems students face on a daily basis.
It’s important for everyone to recognize that it’s perfectly fine to take time every once in a while to gather your marbles before engrossing yourself in the piles of readings, assignments, and those fast-approaching exams: cue the anxiety.
I see so many students on the brink of tears, crashing and burning from the overload. These are the students I encourage to take a moment to breathe, reflect, and talk about it.
With mental health on our minds this month, let’s stop and consider an important thing: your grades will suffer if you overwork yourself, so why not take a day off to work on yourself?
People might think taking a ‘me day’ is selfish or unproductive, but the reality is you can’t succeed if you aren’t happy with your daily life. Do a face mask (you too, gentlemen—it feels fantastic), turn on Netflix, and enjoy an evening to yourself (maybe even crack open that bottle of wine you’ve been trying desperately to avoid).
Also, consider your school’s counselling services. In between classes, why not check out the professional services York offers? You’ve already paid for them through those now highly publicized ancillary fees.
Nobody should be embarrassed to speak with a professional, especially if it’s going to help you in the long-run, and definitely not if the service is already offered to you.
Let’s make the student community’s February resolution to recognize that mental health is extremely important, and that it is perfectly acceptable to stop amid the chaos and work on it.
