Recognizing World Mental Health Day
In recognition of the stress that Carolina students are experiencing in this unprecedented semester and in observance of World Mental Health Day, UNC-Chapel Hill leaders are recommending that faculty pause instruction on Oct. 9 to allow for a three-day weekend.
World Mental Health Day is Saturday, Oct. 10, and given the stress we have heard that many of our students are under, we recommend faculty recognize Friday, Oct. 9 (which is also midpoint of the fall term), as the University’s observance of World Mental Health Day by “pausing” instruction on that day, creating a three-day weekend and allowing time for self-care. While the compressed academic calendar does not allow us to provide a day off, this pause might include, but is not limited to: changing a live lecture to a recorded one to be watched at a later date, postponing the due date of a paper or rescheduling a quiz. We believe that faculty flexibility and compassion on this day, and throughout the semester, will support and facilitate better student mental health.
