Spring 2020
Committee:
Regional Affairs and Executive Committees
WHEREAS, students from California Community Colleges (CCC) reported higher rates of impaired academic performance due to mental health issues, were half as likely to receive referrals for counseling or mental health services by a faculty member or receive services on their campus than their UC and CSU counterparts [1];
WHEREAS, “The International Association of Counseling Services advises there to be one professional for every 1,000 to 1,500 students with the staffing ratios at the UC and CSU are close to that ratio (about 1,100 students per counselor at UC and 2,000 students per counselor at CSU); however, ratios at the CCC exceed more than 7,000 students per counselor” [2];
WHEREAS, “if the culture of every California public college campus was supportive of mental wellness, use of services among students with current mental health symptoms or recent mental health–related academic impairment would be expected to rise by an average of 39%” [3]; and
WHEREAS, measures such as Proposition 63 (Mental Health Services Act, 2004) and AB 1689 (College Mental Health Services Program, 2004) have been pursued, demonstrating an evident basic need for mental health resources in the California Community College system specifically [4]; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate that all California community colleges students take a basic needs survey prior to enrollment that includes questions regarding health and wellness in order to provide students with the needed resources;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to collect the data for a basic needs survey; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges report out the survey results to inform actions to fund a health and wellness resource center and licensed therapists dedicated to support students on every California Community College campus.
Citation 1: Ramos-Yamamoto, A. (2019, May 30). California College Students Are Increasingly Experiencing Mental Health Issues and Need Improved Support. Retrieved from https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/.
Citation 2: Ramos-Yamamoto, A. (2019, May 30). California College Students Are Increasingly Experiencing Mental Health Issues and Need Improved Support. Retrieved from https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/.
Citation 3: Sontag-Padilla, L., Woodbridge, M. W., Mendelsohn, J., D'Amico, E. J., Osilla, K. C., Jaycox, L. H., ... Smith KL. (2016, April 1). Factors Affecting Mental Health Service
Utilization Among California Public College and University Students. Retrieved from
https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201500307.
Citation 4: Department of Health Care Services. (2004, November 2). Mental Health Services Act.
Retrieved from https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/MH/Pages/MH_Prop63.aspx.
WHEREAS, “The International Association of Counseling Services advises there to be one professional for every 1,000 to 1,500 students with the staffing ratios at the UC and CSU are close to that ratio (about 1,100 students per counselor at UC and 2,000 students per counselor at CSU); however, ratios at the CCC exceed more than 7,000 students per counselor” [2];
WHEREAS, “if the culture of every California public college campus was supportive of mental wellness, use of services among students with current mental health symptoms or recent mental health–related academic impairment would be expected to rise by an average of 39%” [3]; and
WHEREAS, measures such as Proposition 63 (Mental Health Services Act, 2004) and AB 1689 (College Mental Health Services Program, 2004) have been pursued, demonstrating an evident basic need for mental health resources in the California Community College system specifically [4]; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate that all California community colleges students take a basic needs survey prior to enrollment that includes questions regarding health and wellness in order to provide students with the needed resources;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Chancellor’s Office to collect the data for a basic needs survey; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges report out the survey results to inform actions to fund a health and wellness resource center and licensed therapists dedicated to support students on every California Community College campus.
Citation 1: Ramos-Yamamoto, A. (2019, May 30). California College Students Are Increasingly Experiencing Mental Health Issues and Need Improved Support. Retrieved from https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/.
Citation 2: Ramos-Yamamoto, A. (2019, May 30). California College Students Are Increasingly Experiencing Mental Health Issues and Need Improved Support. Retrieved from https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/.
Citation 3: Sontag-Padilla, L., Woodbridge, M. W., Mendelsohn, J., D'Amico, E. J., Osilla, K. C., Jaycox, L. H., ... Smith KL. (2016, April 1). Factors Affecting Mental Health Service
Utilization Among California Public College and University Students. Retrieved from
https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201500307.
Citation 4: Department of Health Care Services. (2004, November 2). Mental Health Services Act.
Retrieved from https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/MH/Pages/MH_Prop63.aspx.