Mental health, I believe, is not given the attention it deserves. This can result in a lack of happiness and contentment and at worst, tragic and preventable suicides for those struggling with their own mental health. College exacerbates stress and mental health issues, warranting an abundance of mental health resources. However, this is often not the case.
As a student at UF, and one who struggles immensely with anxiety issues, I do not think UF does enough to address students’ mental health. The anxiety levels among fellow students here often run high, yet there are not adequate resources to combat such mental health issues. The Counseling & Wellness Center is a fantastic resource, but there are more than one thousand students per one counselor, resulting in excessive wait times. From personal experience, I know it is nearly impossible to get an appointment scheduled that is less than a month away. In times of severe anxiety, this isn’t sufficient.
It is my hope that better access to therapy and psychiatry could help students, treating mental health issues and preventing suicides. Groups like AWARE associated with the center are an important asset on campus, as they destigmatize mental health treatment. GatorWell also has some therapy and stress management programs. However, funding for programs such as these is often scant.
In a 2017 letter to the editor, Inspire Senator Zachariah Chou wrote about the travesty of denying increased permanent funding for the center. The proposed funding would go toward hiring 12 new counselors, in efforts to lower the student-to-counselor ratio. The local fee committee, which, while not a committee within Student Government, consists of SG officials, had the opportunity to potentially permanently fund more counselors. This would make access to mental health help readily available, yet the proposition was denied and the fee increase of 71.4 cents per credit hour would fail to alleviate the wait times for the CWC. I wholeheartedly agree with Chou’s take – this denial of funds for the primary mental health resource on campus was a moral failure.
Luckily, after a major outcry from the general student body, the provost intervened and provided the permanent funding needed to support these new counselors. In Fall, the local fee committee was more responsive to mental health needs, approving proposals for increased funding for both the Disability Resource Center and the Dean of Students Office.
While this is a step in the right direction, I question the committee’s motives. Do members genuinely understand the importance of mental health resources, or do they want to save face after a tumultuous 2017? I would hope the former, but I fear that is not the case.
Despite past failures, the increased funding for the CWC, Disability Resource Center and Dean of Students Office is a promising step in the right direction. Hopefully, it is the case that the administration, SG and student body in general at UF are starting to realize the severity of mental health issues and will continue to fund programs that provide resources for such problems.
Hannah Whitaker is a UF English sophomore. Her column appears on Mondays.
