The Associated Students of Madison Reserve Board approved over $50,000 in funding for a new student-run mental health office to be constructed in the Student Activity Center, according to a press release Tuesday.
ASM’s Student Activity Center Governing Board Chair Katie Cary requested ASM build the mental health office to allow student mental health groups to provide peer-to-peer advising services, according to the press release.
“There is an incredible demand for mental health services on this campus, and students could benefit from having a stable place to seek out student-provided support,” Cary said.
Cary said $52,670 in student segregated fees will go toward the facility’s construction, which would be completed in fall 2013, but additional future student funding will not be needed for the facility’s operation.
According to Cary, the office’s peer-to-peer advising will differentiate it from counseling services offered by University Health Services, which focus on professional counseling.
Cary said many students would feel more comfortable talking to a peer than a clinical professional.
Cary also said UHS is understaffed, and some students have had to wait up to six weeks for a mental health appointment, which is problematic for students who are experiencing a crisis.
According to Cary, putting a mental health facility in the Student Activity Center will also promote the visibility of mental health on campus.
“By putting this office in a very visible space, we send the message that mental health is not something to be hushed, ignored or looked down upon,” Cary said in the release.
