When I left campus for online classes in March, I was relatively fortunate that I had a place at home that I was able to do my classes, and had a steady internet connection, something that I know was definitely not the case for all students.
Another effect of covid-19 and being away from campus is that I and other students have had to reconsider our relationship to mental health and counseling. For instance, it took me many months to get my first appointment, which almost discouraged me completely. Then, I saw two therapists for a couple of times each only before we had to go home. Yale mental health did contact me at home, but I said I didn’t know how it would be possible to keep meeting while I was constantly around other people and stuck inside. I didn’t receive any more emails or contact after that. Fortunately, my mental health has been okay at home, but I know that others have been thrust into much more volatile situations, and many of them were never contacted at all.
It’s definitely a turbulent time for everyone, but the health of students should be a top priority for Yale. Mental health and counseling is definitely something not to drop the ball on, with students going into wildly varying and stressful home situations, which is a complete change in their lives, while still trying to work, go to school, take care of their families, and stay healthy. Yale has the resources to keep this department funded and to hire counselors that can relate to and adequately work with their students.
Kelsey Evans, she/her/hers. BK 2021
