Admitting you need help is hard enough with a mental illness. With the current funding of the Counseling and Wellness Center at UF, the process of getting that help afterwards makes it incredibly difficult. Last year, the State of Florida refused to increase fees and price of tuition to fund these resources. Both Impact and Inspire Student Government parties listed increased support for mental health resources on campus as part of their platforms and Inspire even fought to permanently fund CWC counselors. However, on the senate floor, proposals to raise funds are shot down and with the current system little change has been made.

For the 2017-2018 school year, 52,669 undergraduate and graduate students attended the University of Florida. The student-to-counselor ratio was estimated to be one counselor to 1,400 students.  The result is terrifying.  After calling to schedule an appointment, patients can expect to wait weeks up to months to be seen. If the matter is urgent, emergency triage hours are available from 9-4 on weekdays, but both locations are closed on weekends. In the case of a crisis, many students opt to admit themselves to the hospital and be placed under a Baker Act to recieve appropriate treatment. Finding a community provider outside of the university becomes necessary. In many instances, this is not practical (searching for a provider that accepts your insurance, coordinating transportation, paying for medication and appointments on top of tuition). This should not be the standard for mental health care at UF. 

While we celebrate moving into a top 8 position among all national public universities, the matter only grows more urgent. Competition and an unhealthy amount of stress to succeed can exacerbate preexisting mental health conditions or cause new problems to arise. Accoding to data from the Counseling and Wellness Center:

• "In the 2016-2017 school year, the center saw 5,088 patients, an increase of more than 300 from the year before, which was an increase of more than 300 from the year before then, according to data Escoto presented. Compared to 2016, the center has seen 516 more instances of suicidal thoughts, from fleeting thoughts to established plans. They’ve also seen 653 more cases of academic distress, 955 more cases of shyness and social anxiety and 701 more cases of sadness and depression. Other problems, like eating concerns and substance abuse, increased as well." (Romy Ellenbogen)

The time to act is now. With enough students supporting this movement, we can send a message to UF Student Government and Administration that funding mental health matters. If changes are made today, within the next few years the University of Florida could become a national paragon for student healthcare. 

What you can do:

1. Sign this petition, and share it on social media for visibility. 
2. If you are a Student Government senator, bring this issue up at a senate meeting. 
3. Donate money to the CWC at UF.
4. Submit a Letter to the Editor to The Alligator, sharing your mental health story and arguing for increased funding for the CWC.
5. If you or someone you know is currently struggling, do not be afraid to seek help. 

   Alachua County Crisis Hotline: 352-264-6789

   National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255