With Yale’s coronavirus response, I got lucky–which is not something that every student can say. I was allowed to stay on campus, which was good for me. But I know that being allowed on campus was the exception, not the rule. I know that lots of other students didn’t get as lucky as I did.
I called into MH&C at the beginning of November to talk about starting antidepressants. I wasn’t able to see a psychiatrist until February. It felt like an eternity. Though I’ve been able to access other resources through SHARE, I avoid MH&C because navigating the system is too draining. A lot of MH&C seems to be oriented towards helping those who are stressed with school, but they don’t seem to be able to hold space for those dealing with issues outside of academics. As someone on full financial aid, I sometimes feel guilty asking Yale to do more. But though I’ve had good experiences at Yale, I know that that’s not the case for everyone–but it should be. Everyone deserves to be comfortable at Yale. Everyone deserves to get the most out of Yale like I have been able to.
Aaron Jenkins, he/him, 2022, Saybrook
