As an engineering student entering their fourth and final year of undergraduate studies, the previous three years of my life have been faced with countless numbers of anxiety-induced health issues and episodes of depression. For three years, I have dealt with an avalanche of mental health struggles. Unfortunately, whenever I would disclose this information to any of my professors or advisors, they could not confidently refer me to someone or any proper resource that could help me out with my mental health needs. This is a huge problem that has arisen within the Grainger College of Engineering for years. Thousands of students were in my shoes before me, and I never want another student to feel like they have reached the end of their options for help.

Professors and advisors want to see their students succeed and be able to graduate. Myself, along with a great portion of those in the college, deal with varying types of mental health struggles. Yet, there is a lack of proper resources and staff members that can adequately handle the student's needs. From my freshman year orientation (August 25th, 2018) to today (June 13th, 2021), I can count the number of times I have heard of any engineering-specific resources on one hand. The more I think about it, the scarier the reality of it is. 

I think the reality of the disrespect started to settle in when I kept seeing new constructions pop up around the engineering quads every year. I thought 

"Grainger have so much money."

Grainger can add a new, high-tech engineering building faster than I can get an appointment for a McKinley Health Center therapist. Millions of dollars are being donated and spent each year within the college … and yet, the resources are sparse and difficult to locate. 

For students to keep matriculating into Grainger and feel like they belong , large changes must be made. 

List of Ideas for the Grainger Administration to Highly Consider:

• Allocate sufficient funding towards forming a proper Grainger College of Engineering Mental Health Department.
  • Apart from the more common disorders (generalized anxiety disorders, depression, and/or ADHD) these resources must be an EQUITABLE contribution to the ENTIRE mental health community .
• Include a 'Mental Health' webpage on the UIUC Grainger College of Engineering Website.
• Properly train professors, advisors, and staff members on how to adequately assist students that require mental health resources (emergency or not).
• Allow for undergraduate and graduate students to serve as official 'Grainger Mental Health Advocates' that can assist with students that might not be comfortable approaching faculty members with questions and information for campus resources.
• Teach incoming freshman/ transfer students about the mental health resources available to them when they first arrive on campus (ENG100 curriculum, easily accessible information pamphlet in every building).
• Provide extensive information and resources specifically on 'Imposter Syndrome'.

I understand that what I feel would be ideal for the college would cost a lot of money and a considerable amount of time to be properly implemented within Grainger. But, both are well within the college's abilities to be able to be done.

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Of course, I am not the first person to do something like this, and I will not be the last. But, as the days creep on, no progress has been made. Nothing. I am tired of waiting any longer. I will not graduate in the spring of 2022 without seeing that progress is being made towards this. Students enter the college with the full intentions of graduating and making their lives out to be what they want; it should not be cut short due to an underfunded department in an overfunded college.

This petition, along with every signature, will be presented to the UIUC Grainger Administration when enough support is shown and a formal report is drafted. 

Thank you.