A vision for the future: mental health awareness

The Utah Legislative session ended while most of us were enjoying the beach during spring break. There were many ups and downs, and some students have expressed their disappointment in USUSA’s leadership’s ability to impact the 45-day session. For those of you just tuning in, USUSA had the opportunity to present legislation that would impact mental health at Utah State as well as other institutions of higher education throughout the state. This opportunity was missed due to deadlines, sponsors and general bureaucracy.

Much of the disappointment surrounding this failure is valid. We feel it. We know it first hand. We’ve watched as our student leaders reach higher and further than ever before with much success and learning along the way. Instead of ruminating on where we fell short, we prefer to see the glass as half full.

In order to carry a positive action you have to develop positive vision, and President Olsen did just that. His greatest contribution to the Utah Student Association and USUSA has been his vision. He recognized what it takes to create that meaningful change we all so desperately desire, a vision that inspires others.

From the beginning at our first officer retreat, a year ago this week, we knew that Olsen was committed and serious to finding solutions to the mental health crises in on- and off-campus communities. His desire to leave a legacy of compassion, hard work and challenging stigma was backed by every student leader at the university. A year later, we can say that Olsen stayed true to his promises made during those early days in office as we see results on the horizon. The vision of mental health advocacy has culminated in Mental Health Is No Joke: Stand Up To Stigma. This campaign starts on Saturday and runs through March 26.

During the month of February, that much-anticipated election season, there was more buzz about mental health awareness than we’ve ever heard during our time at Utah State. Not only do the current student leaders support this mental health campaign, the officers elected to the Executive Council for the upcoming academic year support it as well. Of those newly elected leaders, over half of them campaigned directly on mental health initiatives.

This is the gift of vision. While Olsen may not have secured an immediate sponsor for legislation, or secured immediate funding, he recognized the larger picture and helped secure the hearts of student officers for years to come. It lives on through our newly elected officials. The vision of Olsen is influencing not only the present day, but also the work of our future student body officers.

Where some may see coincidence, we see the influence an incredible leader had over the past year. Having worked with President Olsen this year on mental health initiatives, we can positively say that it is not a coincidence. The foundation for future success was provided.

Olsen has helped the student body, and student associations across the state, find their way. While it may be argued that Olsen fell short on mental health during the past legislative session, it is evident that his vision is far from finished. His vision provided the voice for students to succeed. It is voice that will garner support to fully realize the vision engendered by President Olsen. And this voice will not be silenced.

Ty Aller
Graduate Studies Senator

Madison Maners
PR and Marketing Director

To get involved in the mental health initiatives within USUSA, and to participate in Mental Health Is No Joke: Stand Up To Stigma, come out to the events for that week and contact your officers at prandmarketing.ususa@usu.edu.

The first event of Mental Health Is No Joke is the Out of the Darkness Walk, hosted in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. You can preregister online at ususa.usu.edu/outofdarkness.