FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2023
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Young Invincibles Releases Mental Health Agenda
MORE THAN SELF CARE: STUDENTS SPEAKING OUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH DETAILS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS CENTERING STUDENT SUPPORTS
(Houston, TX) – Young Invincibles released their Mental Health Agenda, More Than Self Care: Students Speaking Out for Mental Health. Written by college students and recent graduates, the agenda focuses on student experience and areas where colleges and universities fall short.
Mental health care for students is critical in the intersection between health care and higher education. The agenda details the importance of expanding resources on campuses and outlines specific steps the state of Texas must take to prioritize student mental health.
The mission of the agenda has focused on connecting students to tangible solutions and improving the quality of mental health services on campus. It was imperative to understand the landscape and differences between what services two and four-year schools offered their students. The research showed a clear need for significant improvements to be made in both institutions. Centering student voices is the most effective way to inform the necessary policy change.
Key recommendations include investing in a statewide Healthy Minds Checklist to ensure campuses have inclusive programming that benefits both staff and students, as well as implementing basic needs navigation services to help low-income and first-generation students.
In response, Naomi Cruz Ojeda, Mental Health Policy Fellow at Young Invincibles issued the following response:
“Listening to students is essential in understanding how to best support them on campus. The pandemic has continued to exacerbate the mental health crisis; this is especially true for students that are Black, Indigenous, and communities of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, disabled, criminalized, houseless, low-income, and parenting while in college.
Directly from students, we heard the struggles they faced on campus and the impact of mental health care. Centering student voices is imperative and students need a seat at the table in deciding what is best for them.
Our recommendations outline detailed approaches to address mental health needs on campus and improve current standards. Texas needs to invest in and learn from existing campus programs and reexamine ways that key legislation can support the mental health and basic needs of Texas’ college students.”
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