Greetings, readers from the Fanshawe community and beyond. Welcome

to a brand new issue of Interrobang. I’m pretty tired as I write this, and I’m sure you’re pretty tired as you read these words. The beginning of the fall term has flown by, leaving me and everyone else on campus virtually breathless in its wake. The days are beginning to get shorter. The inevitable September cold and flu is starting to make its rounds among students and staff. And while we all started the month with ambition and pep, this is the time where reality sets in and we realize we might not have factored enough for sleep, healthy eating, and the general physical upkeep required to keep our eyes open.

That’s why the Mental Health Issue is published at this time of year. The pressures of school, work and life are starting to weigh on our shoulders, and it’s critical to know what resources are available to you.

You’ll see in our articles, over and over, where you can go on and off campus to get the support you need. As much as I try to avoid redundancy in my writing, this is one of those rare occasions where I hope you notice our intended repetition. By the time you get to the sports section, I hope you have the contact info for Counselling and Accessibility burned into your brain. These resources are there. Use them.

Please also keep in mind that our feature content for this issue, and all issues, is written by your fellow Fanshawe students who too know the struggle of maintaining a good state of mental well-being. You’re not alone. In fact, you’re surrounded by a group of over 40,000 peers who at one time or another have felt exactly how you may be feeling now.

Don’t be afraid to connect and reach out either to your friends, instructors or counsellors if you’re having a tough time. In addition to this paper’s content, there will be more opportunity to learn about what’s available to you on campus and in the London community at the Fanshawe Student Union’s (FSU) upcoming Mental Health Awareness Week from Oct. 7 to 11. Keep in mind that World Mental Health Day will be celebrated with a Chill Lounge in Forwell Hall on Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To learn more about FSU events, go to fsu.ca/events.

And so it goes,

Angela McInnes

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.