I am tired of losing my fellow students, and I’m tired of how the University of Wisconsin-Madison glosses over it by turning off comments on posts as well as sending out only one email as if everything continues to remain normal. I am demanding for a staff increase at UHS Mental Health Services from 75 employees to 150 employees in order to assist our 50,000 students with the proper therapy assistance they deserve.

The recent death of a student, who took their own life, is saddening and a tragedy for the UW-Campus. My heart goes out to all of those affected by this tragic event and I truly hope that the people affected are getting the proper treatment they deserve. We have lost a number of students during the last 5 years to a battle in which we have not given them the proper help to fight. 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison does not offer enough for the student body in terms of mental support. Our cries for a larger department of Student Mental Health fall on deaf ears. One death is too many and it should not take an event as tragic as this one to bring it to light. After enduring COVID-19 shutdowns and the toll that it has taken on the student body (those coming into the university and those leaving), every person who has attempted to reach out to UHS runs into three main issues.

(1) They have to wait long periods (which could be literal months, not weeks) to get proper assistance through the UW network in order to get consistent help with their trauma and mental deprivation.

(2) They get the assistance that has been requested but are not given enough opportunities to meet with their provider (10 total visits).

(3) They are forced to reach out to other providers in the area that they may not be able to afford or access.

Due to these issues, students do not get proper mental health support they need. UW currently employs 75 employees designated for mental health services at UHS. Enrollment for the 2022 Fall semester was a staggering 49,886 students. According to the American Psychology Association, 41.6 percent of college students experience symptoms of anxiety and depression, with 21 percent of students experiencing severe mental health concerns. At the rate of 21 percent, those 75 UW employees would need to have at least 140 clients each in order to keep up with a rate of 21 percent of students experiencing mental health crises!

Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison over the past 5 years have seen many changes to the campus including rebuilding the Nick, the Bakke, the Chemistry Building, and the Camp Randall Stadium Renovations. According to the university website, in 2021, the university approved a $6.56 billion operating fund. I believe it is time for some change, to arguably our most important department at the University. 

Especially since according to the Wisconsin Examiner, the University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman recently proposed a 5% increase in tuition for in-state students, potentially raising the cost of public higher education in the state for the first time since lawmakers instituted a freeze on tuition more than a decade ago.If this happens, the plans for this 5% raise need to include funding for our UHS mental health services. 

I am calling on Chancellor Mnookin to address this publicly. We do not need emails, we do not need fliers, we do not need social media posts. I am calling to double the mental health staff at UHS within the next 3 years. We need assistance for our students who are struggling. We need a mental health department capable of helping our students. We cannot keep losing students and sit by without giving them the proper assistance they deserve.