Spring 2019
Committee:
Legislative Affairs Committee
WHEREAS, approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year (NHMI, 2015);
WHEREAS, one in four students have a diagnosable mental illness and 40% do not seek help while 50% have severe anxiety which later affects their educational endeavors (NHMI, 2015);
WHEREAS, young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of mental illness (22.1%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (21.1%) and aged 50 and older (14.5%) (NHMI, 2015); and
WHEREAS, the University of California system follows the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) recommendations formed off of the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors which recommends setting the ratio of mental health professionals to students as 1 to 1,600 (IACS 2013, AUCCCD 2016); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the SSCCC advocates for more funding for mental health initiatives and push to have all California community colleges receive low- or no-cost mental health treatment on all California Community College campuses; and
RESOLVED, that all California community colleges have adequate mental health professionals to ensure students are able to see these mental health professionals according to the recommendations formed off the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors (1 to 1,600) (IACS 2013, AUCCCD 2016).
Citation [1] “Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml.
Citation [2] Reetz, David R, et al. “The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors Annual Survey.” 31. Aug. 2016, pp. 45-58. Retrieved from https://www.aucccd.org/assets/documents/aucccd%202016%20monograph%20-%20public.pdf
Citation [3] “Statement about Recommended Staff to Student Ratios.” International Association of Counseling Services, Retrieved from iacsinc.org/staff-to-student-ratios.html.
WHEREAS, one in four students have a diagnosable mental illness and 40% do not seek help while 50% have severe anxiety which later affects their educational endeavors (NHMI, 2015);
WHEREAS, young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of mental illness (22.1%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (21.1%) and aged 50 and older (14.5%) (NHMI, 2015); and
WHEREAS, the University of California system follows the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) recommendations formed off of the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors which recommends setting the ratio of mental health professionals to students as 1 to 1,600 (IACS 2013, AUCCCD 2016); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the SSCCC advocates for more funding for mental health initiatives and push to have all California community colleges receive low- or no-cost mental health treatment on all California Community College campuses; and
RESOLVED, that all California community colleges have adequate mental health professionals to ensure students are able to see these mental health professionals according to the recommendations formed off the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors (1 to 1,600) (IACS 2013, AUCCCD 2016).
Citation [1] “Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml.
Citation [2] Reetz, David R, et al. “The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors Annual Survey.” 31. Aug. 2016, pp. 45-58. Retrieved from https://www.aucccd.org/assets/documents/aucccd%202016%20monograph%20-%20public.pdf
Citation [3] “Statement about Recommended Staff to Student Ratios.” International Association of Counseling Services, Retrieved from iacsinc.org/staff-to-student-ratios.html.