USUSA introduces legislation to declare a mental health crisis at USU
During its meeting on Tuesday, the Utah State University Student Association Executive Council introduced a new form of legislation to declare a state of crisis at Utah State University.
The legislation declares that USU students are experiencing a huge increase in poor mental health and there aren’t enough resources to help everyone.
Students across Utah are suffering from poor mental health. The legislation says more than 56 percent of USU students who went to the Student Health and Wellness Center received a diagnosis relating to mental health.
During USUSA Executive Council’s meeting next week, the council will vote on whether or not to pass the legislation. That meeting will be open for the public to attend on Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. in the Senate Chamber Room, which is located on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center.
Editor’s Note: The statistics in this article have been updated, as well as some minor phrasing changes.
The only 50 percent or more depression I see around here is this article. Do you seriously believe that statistic?? Show me the study and I might be half inclined to give the USUSA a second thought. Check yo facts girl.
I don’t know if 50 percent is an accurate statistic, but I do know that mental health is a HUGE issue at Utah State and around the state for college students. The other day, I was sitting in a room talking with some people. Of the four of us in the room, three had been treated for depression and/or anxiety in the past year, while two were currently on medication for it. The article is correct in stating that mental health needs more attention, & I think the school is a great place to provide more resources & support for students with poor mental health.
You are absolutely right! We have since corrected that statistic to say “more than 50 percent of college students in Utah who use the health and wellness center receive a diagnosis relating to mental health” which is true. On national level 44% of college student suffer from symptoms of depression or at least that is what Dr. George Krucik, a doctor of medicine in San Francisco, California reported.
Thanks for calling me out, though. I could always use an extra pair of eyes to check my mistakes.
Hi there! I am the sponsor and author of this legislation in the Executive Council of the USUSA. I wanted to clear up some things that were reported in this article that may not be accurate.
The claim that 50% of students is Utah suffer from depression is not accurate. In out bill, we state that 56% of students who use the student health and wellness center received a diagnosis relation to mental health (depression, anxiety, ADHD, ect.). There was a bit of misunderstanding and this article will be updated latter today to correct this.
I would also like to encourage everyone who would like to see a copy of the legislation to go to ususa.usu.edu to find a copy of our minutes from the meeting (that will be posted very soon) so you can read the actual text of the legislation. If you have any further questions, you can contact me at studentadvocatevp.ususa@usu.edu.
Thank you all again and I am looking forward to the final reading of this bill on Tuesday September 6 at 5 PM in the TSC Senate Chambers.
And 100% of students, staff, and faculty have to deal with the health effects of our winter air pollution and the economic effects of climate change. Does this deserve the crisis label?
I would imagine cost of college would be a huge factor. Now a days more and more people are being forced to work full time jobs on top of full time school just to pay for the classes. The stress just compounds.
With the cost of tuition, books, parking and housing, does this really surprise anyone?
I am a psychology graduate student and have been a therapist in several clinics on campus (Student Health, Counseling & Psychological Services, and the Psychology Community Clinic). All of these places are overloaded with more patients than can be seen. All have wait lists because we need more therapists. This is a serious issue. It is not highly publicized by the university, but we have seen increases in the number of suicides. The last number I heard for last school year alone was four, and at least two happened ON CAMPUS. There might be more I don’t about. I am proud of USUSA for addressing this and would do whatever I can to offer support.