Supporting Your Mental Health and Wellness
To continue providing the wellness services you need, CSUCI is proposing an increase to the Student Health Fee. The fee hasn’t changed since 2014, but rising costs and increasing demand for services, especially mental health counseling, make this change essential.
Over the past 10 years, the cost of living has risen, impacting wages for student employees, staff salaries, and operational expenses. The aftermath of COVID-19 introduced new challenges, emphasizing the need for expanded mental health support, medical staff, and health and safety measures. Without an adjustment, maintaining current services or introducing new ones to meet the growing student demand will become increasingly difficult.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is at the heart of our health and wellness efforts. CAPS offers short-term mental health services and same-day crisis intervention to help students manage issues like anxiety, depression, interpersonal challenges, and cultural trauma in a safe, welcoming environment. Demand for these services has grown substantially, reflecting the mental health challenges faced by students across campus.
What Students Are Saying
Recent surveys show the importance of health resources to our students:
- 52% of first-year students are worried about avoiding mental or emotional exhaustion.
- 45% are concerned about getting enough sleep.
- 39% are focused on maintaining positive mental health.
Compared to last year:
- Mental exhaustion worries grew by 32 percentage points.
- Sleep concerns increased by 25 percentage points.
- Mental health concerns rose by 11 percentage points.
Student Health Challenges
National data reflects the urgent need for comprehensive health support on campuses:
- 34.6% of CSUCI students report an anxiety diagnosis.
- 25.8% have been diagnosed with depression.
- 76.4% report experiencing moderate to high stress in the past 30 days.
Additionally, health concerns are among the top obstacles affecting academic performance:
- Procrastination (44.3%)
- Stress (35.2%)
- Anxiety (26.7%)
- Finances (21.2%)
- Depression (20.5%)
Why the Student Health Fee Matters
The Student Health Fee ensures access to vital services like mental health counseling, medical care, and wellness programs. It is a mandatory fee included in the total cost of attendance and is often covered by financial aid for eligible students, minimizing financial stress. This proposed increase is essential to maintaining and improving access to the resources that help students stay healthy, manage stress, and succeed academically and personally.
Benefits of Raising the Student Health Fee
- Enhanced Mental Health Services: Shorter wait times, additional counselors, and expanded access to mental health support.
- Expanded Wellness Programs: Initiatives like after-hours care, peer support groups, and prevention programs will promote overall well-being.
- Early Intervention: On-campus resources will help address issues early, preventing disruptions to students' academic journeys.
- Support for a Diverse Campus: Services tailored to the needs of CSUCI’s diverse community, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
- Keeping Up with Costs: Adjusting for inflation and increasing demand will maintain high-quality services.
- Phased Implementation: The increase will be rolled out gradually, reducing the immediate financial impact.
Consequences of Not Raising the Student Health Fee
- Longer wait times for counseling and health services
- Reduced access to critical wellness programs and mental health resources
- Increased reliance on off-campus services, which may be more expensive and less convenient
- Limited resources for addressing mental health crises and prevention efforts
Why This Matters
Investing in mental health and wellness is essential to student success. CAPS and other health services directly contribute to students’ ability to thrive academically and personally. A healthier campus community is a more engaged and productive one, prepared to overcome challenges and achieve goals.
By supporting this fee increase, you help ensure that CSUCI continues to prioritize the mental health and well-being of all students. Thank you for considering this important investment in our campus community!