By: Cedrick Charles, EMU Student Body Vice President

A note from Jeff:

I am happy to share with you this blog entry by Cedrick Charles, Student Body Vice President, a student of mine in two classes, and a wonderful representative of EMU. Cedrick talks about a problem many of us have observed, and sometimes struggled to address, with our students (one helpful resource is provided by the Jed Foundation).  On our website, you will see our Call for Applications for Mini-Grants to Support Student Wellness. Consider applying if you have an idea that might address the challenges so many of our students are facing; applications are due on March 8.

It is tempting to view our jobs as being limited to teaching our disciplines to students.  This is vitally important, of course.  But I urge you to take a more expansive view of what we do.  Student wellness is a concern we should share - if your students are struggling emotionally, they will struggle in their classes, making our disciplinary teaching less satisfying and less effective.  Moreover, as the Jed Foundation notes, just showing students you care will mean a lot to them and may make a difference for someone.  I hope you will take Cedrick’s words to heart and encourage your students to participate in Mental Wellness Week this year. 

The current mental health crisis affects millions across America and thousands of students on campus. Between 2009 and 2014, the number of counseling center appointments at American universities rose six times faster than institutional enrollment. By 2017, the number of students who had used mental health services in a given year rose to 34% in the United States, up from 19% just a decade earlier. Seventy-three percent of college students will experience a psychiatric crisis during their time in college. Today, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34. This increased demand for mental health services has left many universities unequipped to tackle this crisis. 

While the University has repeatedly expressed its support for strong mental health services and has increased spending on this in recent years, its support of CAPS hasn’t been sufficient to provide comprehensive coverage in an area of student life that the administration should fund, especially given the increasing needs we are facing (as noted above). 

We need a fundamental reimagining of what mental health looks like in the 21st Century. This requires us to work together as a community to show support and offer outlets for students to support mental health. This broad approach makes tools and coping skills more accessible and breaks down mental health stigma in college. Counseling services are undoubtedly important when they are needed. Still, supporting students and offering them mechanisms to deal with some of their challenges can also be valuable.

So, as we look at what this reimagining can look like, Student Government is hosting a Mental Wellness Week for Students! This will take place from February 20 to February 23.  Students can attend the events all week; these events are open to all at no cost. 

We will highlight student organizations by partnering with them to hold tabling events. We’ll be potting plants with the Botany Club, writing messages of hope with Omega Phi Alpha, and hosting a ‘Sip ‘n Spill’ with Active Minds where students can share mental health stories over refreshments. We will also have a keynote speaker, Josh Rivedal, who combines standup comedy and mental health/suicide prevention. 

We invite you to visit Student Government’s Instagram page, @emu_studentgovernment, to find out more about these events and find a schedule for the week to share with your students. Even sharing more about these wellness events can open the door for important conversations about mental health in your classrooms and around campus. As students, we would very much value the support of the faculty to help us make sure that students know about this week and to encourage them to attend.

The goal of this week is to release the stigma around mental health, educate students on resources available to them, and continue to advocate for mental health resources on campus. This issue impacts many members of the EMU community, and we hope this week can shed light and increase awareness of mental health. 

In addition to publicizing Mental Wellness Week, we invite proposals for any programs you would like to host during the week. Sessions can range from 30 minutes to an hour, and we value any expertise that faculty can offer on mental health and self-care, especially regarding college life. Please email Student Government Vice President Cedrick Charles at ccharle1@emich.edu if you are interested in being a part of wellness week by submitting a proposal or if you have other ideas for how to show support for your students and their mental health.