Ice on car windows, reddened cheeks from the winterly breeze and frost-kissed footpaths may ignite festive excitement in some people as the Christmas season soon approaches. However, for many students, it signals the reluctant beginning of a dark and gloomy academic period: Michaelmas term exams.
As October reading week comes to a close, the gates of Trinity become overwhelmed by a plethora of anxiety-riddled students, anticipating the crushing workload that winter brings. Students check their phones for a momentary dopamine buzz, only to find another 3 more assignments set on Blackboard. It is during this time that many students log online to tcd.ie in hope of seeking consolation and comfort, only to find that there are no available on-campus counselling sessions for the foreseeable future. Help feels out of reach.
Trinity offers mental health services in their location on 7-9 Leinster Street. SNAP (Support and Needs Assessment Planning) appointments can be accessed by students to avail of a one-on-one counselling session, in which the counsellor provided will listen to the concerns of the student and recommend how the student should proceed with minding their mental health, like pursuing further individual sessions, group sessions or even online zoom calls. SNAP sessions are usually pre-booked online, but there are 2 drop-in SNAP appointments available for students every weekday – allocated on a first come first served basis.
However, as the dull winter months send more and more students into disarray, they are left disappointed by the lack of availability for SNAP appointments online and are regrettably being turned away when they don’t make the first come first serve quota. The severity of Ireland’s mental health crisis is a crushing weight on both youths and support services. We are left to consider whether this is the fault of Trinity, or a result of a national crisis that leaves both students and mental health services drained.
My second-year peers gratefully revealed their opinions on Trinity’s attitude to the mental wellbeing of its students. Between Erasmus qualifications and the Foundation Scholarship, many Senior Fresh students have been personally victimised by seasonal depression and immense stress, leaving them opinionated on the matter. One student reflected on the waitlist for SNAP sessions. Another student commented on the slow speed at which SNAP appointments are followed up on, waiting weeks for the commencement of their promised sessions post-consultation. However, most students wholeheartedly emphasised their understanding of the pressure on counsellors during the latter weeks of term, and understood that there is a lack of staff available to combat the increasing demand for appointments during these periods. Amid a crisis of mental health in the nation, many students felt that the counselling services have tried to accommodate with the resources they have, with their walk-in sessions and emergency sessions available by email, for example. Students also mentioned the positives, such as the events held on Trinity campus to spread awareness about mental health issues. “Movember” has been a huge success this year, with MoBall selling out tickets and various fundraisers and events being organised to raise money and promote men’s mental health awareness.
There are many discussions to be had as to how to resolve the pressing issue of worsening mental health during exam season. Trinity has a major part to play. One of the more recent disappointing revelations for students is the 2025 exam calendar, leaving some students with their heads crammed in the books until the 22nd of December. The late closing of this semester has left many students with less time to embrace the festive spirit, haunted by word counts and deadlines. Furthermore, international and exchange students are left to face the financial burden of soaring flight prices drawing so close to Christmas Day, and are missing out on spending time with family back home in the days leading up to Christmas. This is one of the many pressing issues in Trinity that unfortunately result in the worsening of wellbeing amongst pupils, which must be addressed to relieve the emotional burden on both students and counselling staff.
November and December can be very stressful periods for a lot of young people, and this isn’t always a fault of Trinity itself. The financial dread of buying Christmas presents for friends and family, organising transport home for the holidays, working in retail during the Christmas rush as well as trying to simply pass exams whilst battling the winter sniffles; these are all obstacles that can often exhaust young students to such an extent that they require a shoulder to cry on, and someone to confide in. Bearing external factors in mind, I believe Trinity regardless is responsible for creating a culture of positivity and safety for its pupils. I think it is time we see more preparation going towards counselling services before the annual demand for appointments in winter months – additional funding and prioritisation can transform someone’s life. Establishments of other accessible supports for students to relieve their stress can also be a step towards a future where Michaelmas term doesn’t conclude on a note of resentment: like festive coffee mornings where people can chat and know they are not alone, broadening the grounds for assignment extensions and, of course, allocating more seats in the Ussher!
