In 2016, suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In March, The Lumberjack reported that Julie Ryan, executive director of Health Services, Megan Gavin, director of Campus Health Counseling Services, and Melissa Griffin, director of Health Promotion shared a PowerPoint presentation about mental health on the Northern Arizona University campus.  It found:

• “Between 2010 and 2016, Northern Arizona University's counseling services have seen a 70 percent increase in the number of students served.”
• “Many students are experiencing depression, anxiety, and other issues that are impacting their student academic success.”
• “NAU counseling services are short staffed and can’t get more people in the door”

This lack of mental health services on our campus is a potentially life-threatening issue that affects many students and faculty in the NAU community. There is a clear need and want for more mental health resources on the Flagstaff campus.

The Lumberjack reported that Jane Kuhn, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs, described how the annual $500-per-student recreation fee is spent in a March public forum. She said NAU only allocates 32% of that fee for the Health and Learning Center while the other 68% is put towards debts, including the new aquatic center.

Students will continue to suffer unless we make a change.

By signing this petition, you are requesting that Northern Arizona University and the Arizona Board of Regents take immediate action to address the following:

• A lack of mental health resources and counselors, particularly for students with a continuing need
• Training and information for faculty, staff and students about mental health issues and ways to help those in crisis
• More efficient counseling services for sexual assault victims
• Increased transparency about fees and money being put towards student resources and reallocation of fees to better serve the student needs
• Affordable mental health treatment for students regardless of insurance