FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 07, 2024
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Student Mental Health Week Sparks Conversation for Change
(Washington, DC) – This week, Young Invincibles and advocates met with Members of Congress and the Department of Education to discuss the need to destigmatize mental health and the importance of implementing the Healthy Minds Checklist and prioritizing campus mental health care, closing out Student Mental Health Week 2024.
Young Invincibles joined Chegg’s second annual Student Mental Health Week, in partnership with other nonprofits and organizations around the world, to destigmatize mental health among students, encourage young people to be intentional about looking after themselves, and inspire conversations about what policymakers, higher education institutions, the wider community, caregivers, and learners themselves can do to support student mental wellness.
In addition to facilitating a roundtable, conversations with trusted partners, organizing campus wellness events, and connecting directly with students and leaders, Young Invincibles ended the week with one-on-one meetings with elected officials capitalizing on the importance of student supports on campus. The conversations held were stepping stones to addressing the current mental health crises head-on, and we were appreciative of the affirming conversations with elected officials, mental health professionals, and students.
In response, Satra D. Taylor, Director of Higher Education and Workforce Policy and Advocacy at Young Invincibles said:
“There is no doubt that in the United States, we are in a mental health crisis. One-third of young adults ages 18-25 have a mental health condition, the highest level of any US adults. We must address this from the root and reform mental health coverage, provide necessary resources on campus, and increase the number of trauma-informed, culturally competent mental health providers.
Student Mental Health Week was an opportunity to spark conversations, engage students, and demand change. Young Invincibles is honored to have students join us and share their experiences with those in power. Hearing directly from students about changes they need to see on campus is essential in helping elected officials make informed decisions.
Student Mental Health Week was an immense success.”
In response, Kaitlyn Tollefson, advocate and student said:
“Mental health resources are not only necessary, they are lifesaving. This idea is at the core of my passion surrounding mental health, and what motivated me to join YI in DC to advocate for the Healthy Minds Checklist. Mental health access in college is so often hidden among a plethora of links and pamphlets, inaccessible, or just purely useless to the students that need it. This checklist holds universities accountable for providing mental health support and caring about their students as a human being rather than just a dollar sign.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org