Tise Ogundeji, a freshman computer and information technology major, poses for a picture in Lawson Hall Monday afternoon. Ogundeji said that although he doesn’t have any mental illnesses himself, and he thinks administration is not doing a good job.

“From an outsider’s point of view, as not having any mental illnesses, but knowing a lot of people who do, I don’t feel like they are doing a particularly good job,” Ogundeji said. “I feel like they could do better by giving us more mental health days. I know it might sound like I just want some time off, but it’s not that way. There are a lot of people going through shit, and they just need a break.” 

Sisters Serenity Gause, a junior human services program administration major, and Aryanna Tunstall, a sophomore biological sciences major, pose for a picture outside Coleman Hall Monday afternoon. Gause said there should be more breaks throughout the semester, just like the wellness days last spring, and some better-planned activities.

“They have school activities, but they tell you like two days before,” Gause said. “There’s no activities for months and then all the fun activities are on one day and then there are conflicting times.”

Zareb Islam, a sophomore computer and information technology major, poses for a picture outside Booth Library Monday afternoon. Islam said that he’s never seen a college as devoted to mental health as this one.

“I’ve never seen a college give so much emphasis on mental health,” Islam said. “I feel like giving days off to students, they understand the value of it and I feel, administration-wise, they are doing good work.” 

From left, Izzy Hill, a sophomore art major, and Bob Sak, a sophomore accounting major, pose for a picture outside of Old Main next to a flowering tree Monday afternoon. Although they both live off-campus, the mental health days helped them a lot giving them “just a day to relax.”

Kaitlyn Ostick, a sophomore public health major, poses for a picture while working at Panther Pantry Union Monday afternoon. Ostick said administration seems more conscious of mental health on campus.

“They are trying to like do stuff to help people,” Ostick said. “I don’t know how much that’s working but they’re trying stuff so that’s nice.” 

Sasha Redmond, a freshman theatre major, poses for a picture outside the Union Monday afternoon. Mond said Eastern has done a good job with addressing mental health.

“You know, some of us are working, some of us have other responsibilities,” Mond said. “But I do feel like administration really puts us first as people instead of just as students.”