It is already another busy academic year here at the University of Pennsylvania. As the school treads toward the end of the semester, it is important to take a step back and evaluate the well-being of the most critical stakeholders on campus — our students. The pressure to excel academically, socially, and personally has never been higher as the job market grows more competitive.
Yet, the University’s mental health support systems do not meet the demands and standards needed for the students. The system pats itself on the back for having a “Wellness at Penn” that gives free candy on Locust Walk and advertises the open office hours for counseling. But is any of this actually what the students need? Or is this just a cheap and easy way for the University to say they are being proactive about protecting the students’ mental health?
It’s time for Penn to adopt a simple, but impactful, change. I call for action to implement a “Mental Health Monday” during the fall semester to give students a break from the relentless pace of college life, especially in the first semester of the academic year: essentially a day off of school to prioritize their mental health.
The transition into college, specifically for first-year students, is overwhelming. New responsibilities, unfamiliar environments, complete strangers, and academic demands create a breeding ground for stress. A designated “Mental Health Monday” in mid-October or early-November would allow students to recalibrate their mental well-being. With midterms or finals around the corner, this break would offer a crucial period for self-care — whether that’s reconnecting with friends, catching up on sleep, or simply taking a deep breath.
The proposal for “Mental Health Monday” is not just a feel-good initiative. The shorter days and colder temperatures exacerbate feelings of isolation and stress, negatively impacting mental health, especially in areas like Philadelphia. Studies have found that suicide rates among college students increase in the fall semester, due to academic pressure and seasonal affective disorder. This makes implementing proactive measures, like a day off, more urgent than ever. Handing out candy or giving students access to walk-in counseling is not going to cut it.
While some may argue that giving students a day off would disrupt the academic rhythm or tighten already packed syllabi, these concerns fail to recognize the bigger picture. Is rhythm and structure more important than the students themselves? It’s time for us to recognize that people who make up the structure come before the structure itself. Mental health is not a luxury — it is foundational within Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs .
Penn prides itself on fostering a supportive and enriching academic environment. But to live up to that promise, we must recognize that students are not machines. They need time to process, reflect, and recharge. One day off in the fall semester is a small but powerful step toward protecting the mental health of our student body.
I urge students, faculty, and administrators to advocate for this initiative by reaching out to the University’s leadership. Contact Provost John L. Jackson Jr. (provost@upenn.edu) or Interim Penn President Larry Jameson (president@upenn.edu), and let them know that mental health is a priority. A simple email or letter could make a difference in pushing this initiative forward.
As one voice, let's ensure that Penn excels academically, but more importantly, protects the very DNA of our university: the students.
GINA GRACE HUH is a pediatric nurse practitioner student and Class of 2022 accelerated BSN graduate from Los Angeles, Calif. Her email is ginahuh@nursing.upenn.edu.
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