Spring 2021
Committee:
EXEC/LAC
WHEREAS, suicide is the second most common cause of death among college students with more than half of students having had suicidal thoughts [1], which has translated to a demand in mental health services increasing much higher than the rate of growth in enrollment [2];
WHEREAS, the American Health College Association (ACHA) reported that three out of five college students experienced “overwhelming anxiety,” just in the past year [3], while the PEW Research Center reported that 70% of teens surveyed identified anxiety and depression as major problems among their peers [4];
WHEREAS, Active Minds, a group dedicated to supporting the mental health of college students, claims 39% of college students experienced a “significant mental health issue,” and a 2018 report from the ACHA said more than 40% “felt so depressed they had difficulty functioning,” [5] causing fewer than 40% of community college graduates to dropout due to lack of support from campus institutions [6]; and
WHEREAS, minority populations of the Hispanic, Asian, and African-American communities comprise 63% (1.4 million students) [7] of all California community colleges, and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), racism, discrimination, and stigmas surrounding mental health treatment were listed as the top reasons that prevented minority communities from seeking mental healthcare [8]; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College recognize the necessity of prioritizing efforts to mitigate the steady increase in mental illness for all of its students;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges partner with the Chancellor’s Office to develop a mental health accessibility and treatment plan in a quick and timely manner by the fall of 2024, with the goal of increasing the volume of mental health resources, as well as increasing student accessibility to these said resources; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for SB 849 [9] to be revitalized with the inclusion of California community college students, which would expand the breadth of excused absences to include reasons surrounding mental and behavioral health, further equating mental and physical health and further removing the stigma around mental health treatment.
Citation 1: SafeColleges: Suicide Second Highest Cause of Death Among College Students: https://www.safecolleges.com/suicide-second-highest-cause-of-death-among-college-students/
Citation 2: California Budget and Policy Center: https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/
Citation 3: Deteriorating Mental Health Among U.S. College Students: https://www.imagine-america.org/deteriorating-mental-health-u-s-college-students-part/
Citation 4: Pew Research Center Study: https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/02/20/most-u-s-teens-see-anxiety-and-depression-as-a-major-problem-among-their-peers/
Citation 5: California Budget and Policy Center: https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/
Citation 6: 40 percent of college students drop out - The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/09/10/a-dereliction-duty-college-dropout-scandal-how-fix-it/
Citation 7: California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office - Data Mart: https://datamart.cccco.edu/Students/Student_Term_Annual_Count.aspx
Citation 8: Disparities Within Minority Mental Health Care | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/July-2017/Disparities-Within-Minority-Mental-Health-Care
Citation 9: Bill Text - SB-849 (2020) Pupil attendance: http://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces
]/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB849
WHEREAS, the American Health College Association (ACHA) reported that three out of five college students experienced “overwhelming anxiety,” just in the past year [3], while the PEW Research Center reported that 70% of teens surveyed identified anxiety and depression as major problems among their peers [4];
WHEREAS, Active Minds, a group dedicated to supporting the mental health of college students, claims 39% of college students experienced a “significant mental health issue,” and a 2018 report from the ACHA said more than 40% “felt so depressed they had difficulty functioning,” [5] causing fewer than 40% of community college graduates to dropout due to lack of support from campus institutions [6]; and
WHEREAS, minority populations of the Hispanic, Asian, and African-American communities comprise 63% (1.4 million students) [7] of all California community colleges, and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), racism, discrimination, and stigmas surrounding mental health treatment were listed as the top reasons that prevented minority communities from seeking mental healthcare [8]; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College recognize the necessity of prioritizing efforts to mitigate the steady increase in mental illness for all of its students;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges partner with the Chancellor’s Office to develop a mental health accessibility and treatment plan in a quick and timely manner by the fall of 2024, with the goal of increasing the volume of mental health resources, as well as increasing student accessibility to these said resources; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for SB 849 [9] to be revitalized with the inclusion of California community college students, which would expand the breadth of excused absences to include reasons surrounding mental and behavioral health, further equating mental and physical health and further removing the stigma around mental health treatment.
Citation 1: SafeColleges: Suicide Second Highest Cause of Death Among College Students: https://www.safecolleges.com/suicide-second-highest-cause-of-death-among-college-students/
Citation 2: California Budget and Policy Center: https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/
Citation 3: Deteriorating Mental Health Among U.S. College Students: https://www.imagine-america.org/deteriorating-mental-health-u-s-college-students-part/
Citation 4: Pew Research Center Study: https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/02/20/most-u-s-teens-see-anxiety-and-depression-as-a-major-problem-among-their-peers/
Citation 5: California Budget and Policy Center: https://calbudgetcenter.org/blog/california-college-students-are-increasingly-experiencing-mental-health-issues-and-need-improved-support/
Citation 6: 40 percent of college students drop out - The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/09/10/a-dereliction-duty-college-dropout-scandal-how-fix-it/
Citation 7: California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office - Data Mart: https://datamart.cccco.edu/Students/Student_Term_Annual_Count.aspx
Citation 8: Disparities Within Minority Mental Health Care | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/July-2017/Disparities-Within-Minority-Mental-Health-Care
Citation 9: Bill Text - SB-849 (2020) Pupil attendance: http://www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces
]/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB849