Students at Gannon University are still mourning the death of their classmate who took his own life over the weekend.

Gannon University is offering resources to help students cope, but some students are speaking out about how these resources should have been available sooner, wishing a tragedy didn't have to happen for the university to add more mental health measures.  

“It’s heartbreaking that it truly did have to come to this,” Senior Katie Howey said.

The university on the other hand says the resources have always been there.

“We’re just looking to the university to help us through this,” another Senior, Madison Mann said.

Both of these students were emotionally affected and saddened by the death of their classmate but also by the current mental health situation on their campus. They are advocating for change.

“This was going to happen and it was preventable so we absolutely need to have change here on our campus,” Howey said.

These young women express that there aren't enough counselors on campus, even before the tragedy. There are currently four counselors.

“You get pushed out weeks and weeks to see a counselor,” Mann said.

So we reached out to Gannon University, should they be doing more?
The Provost and VP of the Student Experience said they keep increasing resources but the stress of the pandemic is increasing the need.

“I don’t think there’s a university that can say they have enough resources at this point,” Walter Iwanenki , the Provost and VP said.

He said Gannon University has a handful of other programming and resources aside from just counselors, including a trained faculty and staff and the ability for students to report one another in mental health situations. He said Gannon takes mental health seriously and they have been working through the pandemic to bring the students what they need.

“We are just, as a student body, hoping we can have more resources that continue to come in,” Mann said.

The university will now have additional counselors for the rest of the semester in response to this recent student death.
These students Erie News Now spoke to said the constant grind without a break is leaving so many students beyond stressed, and needing a break.

“It relates to a lot of stress and anxiety the students have,” Mann said.

Gannon leaders do understand. They're now offering more days off at Easter break, providing a chance for students to both grieve their loss and simply take a much needed break.

“Mental health is a serious concern not only at Gannon but across the country right now,” Iwanenki said. “We’re all feeling it. It’s not just the students, it’s our staff and our faculty.”

Both of these students as well as the University are committed to advocating for Mental Health awareness on campus now and in the future.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255.

Gannon University also has a number to call for their counseling service it is (814) 871-7622.