The University of Guelph has experienced heart-breaking losses lately.
There is a pall of grief over the campus this week in the wake of the untimely death of student Riley Lynch, who passed away on Jan. 19.
Flags were flying at half-mast Tuesday in memory of the young man, a fourth-year physics student said to be a gifted photographer and musician.
He was from St. Catharines, where a celebration of his life took place on Tuesday. Donations to the Canadian Mental Health Association were requested by the family.
His death has prompted an online petition calling for better campus resources to help students cope with mental health struggles. As of early Tuesday afternoon, 930 had supported the Change.org petition started by recent biomedical sciences graduate Connie Ly.
In the wording of the petition, Ly said too many lives have been lost to mental illness on campus since last fall.
“These were young, vibrant individuals who felt that they had no one to turn to at the University,” the text of the petition reads. “In response to each death, the University has provided a brief, generic statement stating a few resources on campus to "assist staff and students"
In an email, Ly said “it’s clear that something needs to change within the university.”
However, a number of students on campus Tuesday morning said U of G has many mental health resources in place and appears prepared to help those who seek it.
“I feel there are a lot of pressures when it comes to students finishing their degrees,” said Aviral Saini, a commerce student. “But there are lots of programs that the school has to help students cope with the stress.”
Saini said significant suicide awareness efforts are made on campus.
Sergio Lopez, an international student, had similar things to say. As an international student, he has seen the efforts the university makes to ensure there are opportunities for foreign students to meet and talk about their challenges.
Jessica Teske said U of G is “a small, tightly knit community.” The recent tragic losses of life, she said, affect everyone.
“It’s very tragic,” said the biological sciences student. “This happened to someone close to us. There are so many resources at our disposal, but a loss is a loss. All you can do is keep pushing through.”
The students had words of wisdom to share with those who struggle with mental health challenges.
“If your degree is really hard, and if you are getting a lot of pressure from your parents, but maybe it is not right for you, you should follow your own heart and guts,” said Aviral Saini. “Follow your dream.”
Lopez said there is a lot of pressure, and probably always has been, involved in university education. But the pressure may be more intense for today’s students because good, stable career opportunities after graduation are more difficult to come by.
“So there is a lot of pressure, because everyone wants to go out and fulfill their potential, and do all that they possibly can,” he said. “In real life it is not as easy as it looks, because the world is facing so many challenges.”
Teske said she experiences stress and pressure like other students. She has a regimen for coping, which includes staying physically active with lots of walking and time in the gym. And while she studies hard, she does so in a variety of places so as to keep her approach to studying interesting and creative.
“And it is always nice to have friends to talk to,” she said.
The Change.org petition calls on U of G administration to “acknowledge the prevalence of mental illness on campus.”
It seeks transparency on a number of mental health issues, including how provincial funding is spent, the ways in which mental health support has changed in the past five years, how many students access supports, and if there has been an increase in the need for mental health support.
“Students, staff, parents and alumni are getting fed up,” the petition states. “Mental illness is very real, and it is time for the school to take it seriously.”
The university was contacted for comment on this story, but did not immediately respond.
