Advocacy Proposal
- Gabrielle Renshaw
- Apr 29, 2021
- 3 min read
Introduction:
The specific problem I want to address is the lack of mental health support at the University of Illinois.
The scope has been narrowed from mental health support on college campuses to the University of Illinois specifically because I have more first hand experience and knowledge plus you have to start small before you try and make a big impact on a larger scale.
The actions I am proposing is to add better mental health resources and include mental health in DRES because it is a disability and should be treated as such. People with mental health issues should be able to get accommodations for class like getting extensions or extra time on certain projects, homework/schoolwork, or exams. The audience will be the administrators and professors specifically.
Background:
Many college students suffer from mental health issues but it is not acknowledged or treated the same as any other disability or other extreme situations. College students are pushed to the limits with little thought or consideration of their mental health by professors and administrators. Mental health issues can lead to extreme outcomes such as suicide and potentially having to drop out of school because students cannot keep up with the lack of support.
“A high proportion of students are dealing with anxiety (82%), followed by social isolation/loneliness (68%), depression (63%), trouble concentrating (62%), and difficulty coping with stress in a healthy way (60%). One in five (19%) students have had suicidal thoughts in the past month” (The Jed Foundation, 2020).
Only 52% of students said they were able to get an appointment on their first call to the Counseling Center based on a Counseling Center survey from Fall 2019 semester (https://dailyillini.com/news/2020/02/06/students-administration-tackle-university-mental-health-misconceptions/)
Barely higher than half is not a good statistic
Infographic:
Raising awareness
Share information about the student ambassadors at the counseling center which takes student feedback into account of suggesting new ideas
Include data about mental health on college campuses
Finding a solution (DRES? Easier access to counseling)
The app Anemone
Be able to make appointments ahead of time
If emergency, have open spots each day for those though
They don’t have walk-in hours or services but the Counseling Center says that if it's dire/urgent to just walk in
How about we just implement walk-in hours and walk-in services?
Advocating for action (addressing and reaching out to administrators)
Talk to the student ambassadors at the counseling center to help implement new ideas
Push for better implementation (additional hires) related to the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act (https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=4013&ChapterID=18)
2 Infographics?
Maybe a social media post/graphic of information for students specifically to share information about resources
Make a petition?
What for? Not quite sure? Adding mental health issues to DRES?
Tried Solutions:
Held a vigil on campus (https://illinoisnewsroom.org/university-of-illinois-students-hold-vigil-to-raise-suicide-awareness/)
Asking for more and better resources
How difficult it is to secure a spot to talk to a counseling professional (have to call at 7am to get a spot just later that day)
Asking for a statement from the University to acknowledge student suicides; transparency
Programs already in place (plan to work with to grow on):
Active Minds UIUC (https://dailyillini.com/news/2020/02/06/students-administration-tackle-university-mental-health-misconceptions/)
Trying to get the suicide hotline number on the back of icards
Putting mental health crisis information on student syllabi
Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act
The Anemone crisis app
Student ambassadors at the Counseling Center
Audience:
Trying to reach administrators and professors
They should all care about this issue because it is for the betterment of the students and lead to more success and support for students
Infographic audience:
Administrators and professors
Administrators can add mental health issues to be included in DRES, getting the suicide hotline on the back of icards, adding mental health resources on syllabi
Send signed petition to administrators
Professors can choose to add mental health resources on their syllabus even if it is not university wide mandated
Professors can be more understanding and offer support and extensions if students are struggling with mental health issues
Reach out to professors to get petition signed
Students potentially?
Social media graphic to share available resources
If a petition is made, reach out to students to get it signed
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