Letter from the Editor 09.11.2019

I was thinking a lot about mental health this week. For the last few weeks, we’ve been editing and shaping a feature on antidepressant use—more specifically, what happens when you go off an antidepressant. What happens to your body? How do you feel? What makes antidepressants so important for so many people, and, for some, so desperately hard to stop taking? 

I’m proud of how the piece turned out, a blend of first–person narrative and external reporting and an unflinching look at treatment for mental health. I’m also proud that it’s not against antidepressants, that the writer and those interviewed stressed the importance of medications, even with the challenges they present. 

But I started thinking about mental health more personally when campus was informed about the death of Gregory Eells on Monday. Like many other students, I went through an emotional gamut—shock, sadness, confusion, numbness, worry. Now, as I write this, I just feel tired. 

After taking some steps back and a little time to process, I realized that editing the feature story made me feel, in some ways, better. Hearing people talk candidly about their experiences felt equal parts harrowing and hopeful. That being said, if you’re still in a raw place with your mental health, this week’s feature may not be for you. There are trigger warnings at the top and resources at the bottom of the piece. 

I don’t have any answers. It's not my place. I just want to say I love you all and I’m grateful for this community. And I hope that everyone takes care of themselves this week.