Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Academic),
My name is Mehar Caur and I am petitioning the Faculty’s decision that I withdraw from Queen’s for a minimum of one year and that my failed courses be dropped from my transcript (MATH110, MATH120, GPHY101, BIOL102), alongside a late drop for BIOL103. Due to my mental health condition for which I now have a QSAS Accommodation, I could not fulfill many of my academic duties to the best of my abilities. During my first year at Queen’s University (September 2021 - May 2022), I struggled with various mental health issues that were at the time undiagnosed, alongside self-harm - due to elevated stress with domestic familial issues. At this time, I attempted to discuss these issues with my immediate family, however, due to my culture and family values, these attempts were not taken seriously in regard to getting the help I felt I required. A year ago I did not have the means to try and afford the help that I needed on my own (getting a referral, costs, etc). I also have come to see that not being taken seriously by my family put me in a deeper spiral and state of denial, without which perhaps I would have at that time looked further into accessing these services through Queen’s Student Wellness Services.
During this first year at Queen’s University, my condition prevented me from performing at my peak, along with the added stress of familial issues and the shift to university. At this time I was experiencing a lack of appetite, lack of motivation, depressed moods, suicidal thoughts, and the inability to think clearly. I would wake up and the mere basics were a struggle for me, just getting out of bed, eating, etc. I would spend 2-3 weeks on end confined to my room - in residence, without leaving, unable to get out of bed due to how I was feeling. At one point, I was reached out to by Queen’s concerning my health due to my lack of TAM, Flex dollars, and dining hall use during one of these periods. These feelings and the lack of control I felt, prevented me from attending classes as I was severely sleep deprived, suffering from poor nutrition, and unable to focus and complete assessments; my feelings of depression made it difficult for me to perform even the most basic of tasks which disrupted my routines. This paired with my lack of a support system ruined my self-esteem and gave me difficulty following through with tasks and submitting assignments.
Earlier this year I was able to find the help I needed and afford to get a diagnosis myself, through which I was then diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD. My follow-ups with a mental health care professional have allowed me to further work on recovering from my first year, alongside cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), submitting documentation and registering for QSAS, and beginning medication to help manage my condition. At this time, I do have deferred exams due to unforeseen side effects of a new medication I began that caused adverse effects, however, I am in contact with my professors and have since been doing better, and will be writing these exams at the first given opportunity. Cognitive behavioural therapy and frequent follow-ups with my doctor are now a part of my monthly routine and have been effective in helping me to learn to manage my condition and function as I would usually. What I experienced last year has traumatized me - I felt at a loss, and receiving the professional support that I have needed since has allowed me to start to return to some level of normalcy and gain insight into self-regulation in terms of my condition.
Regards,
Mehar Caur
My name is Mehar Caur and I am petitioning the Faculty’s decision that I withdraw from Queen’s for a minimum of one year and that my failed courses be dropped from my transcript (MATH110, MATH120, GPHY101, BIOL102), alongside a late drop for BIOL103. Due to my mental health condition for which I now have a QSAS Accommodation, I could not fulfill many of my academic duties to the best of my abilities. During my first year at Queen’s University (September 2021 - May 2022), I struggled with various mental health issues that were at the time undiagnosed, alongside self-harm - due to elevated stress with domestic familial issues. At this time, I attempted to discuss these issues with my immediate family, however, due to my culture and family values, these attempts were not taken seriously in regard to getting the help I felt I required. A year ago I did not have the means to try and afford the help that I needed on my own (getting a referral, costs, etc). I also have come to see that not being taken seriously by my family put me in a deeper spiral and state of denial, without which perhaps I would have at that time looked further into accessing these services through Queen’s Student Wellness Services.
During this first year at Queen’s University, my condition prevented me from performing at my peak, along with the added stress of familial issues and the shift to university. At this time I was experiencing a lack of appetite, lack of motivation, depressed moods, suicidal thoughts, and the inability to think clearly. I would wake up and the mere basics were a struggle for me, just getting out of bed, eating, etc. I would spend 2-3 weeks on end confined to my room - in residence, without leaving, unable to get out of bed due to how I was feeling. At one point, I was reached out to by Queen’s concerning my health due to my lack of TAM, Flex dollars, and dining hall use during one of these periods. These feelings and the lack of control I felt, prevented me from attending classes as I was severely sleep deprived, suffering from poor nutrition, and unable to focus and complete assessments; my feelings of depression made it difficult for me to perform even the most basic of tasks which disrupted my routines. This paired with my lack of a support system ruined my self-esteem and gave me difficulty following through with tasks and submitting assignments.
Earlier this year I was able to find the help I needed and afford to get a diagnosis myself, through which I was then diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD. My follow-ups with a mental health care professional have allowed me to further work on recovering from my first year, alongside cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), submitting documentation and registering for QSAS, and beginning medication to help manage my condition. At this time, I do have deferred exams due to unforeseen side effects of a new medication I began that caused adverse effects, however, I am in contact with my professors and have since been doing better, and will be writing these exams at the first given opportunity. Cognitive behavioural therapy and frequent follow-ups with my doctor are now a part of my monthly routine and have been effective in helping me to learn to manage my condition and function as I would usually. What I experienced last year has traumatized me - I felt at a loss, and receiving the professional support that I have needed since has allowed me to start to return to some level of normalcy and gain insight into self-regulation in terms of my condition.
Regards,
Mehar Caur