Fall 2016
Committee:
Legislative Affairs Committee
Whereas, “One in five Americans has a mental illness and many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care; the symptoms of mental illness can be difficult to detect, they may not know how to intervene or direct the person to proper treatment; which means that all too often, those in need of mental health services do not get them until it is too late.” (National Council for Behavioral Health 2015)
Whereas, Mental Health First Aid allows for early detection and intervention by teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and addictions.
Resolved, the Student Senate of California Community Colleges recommends that all faculty and staff be trained in Mental Health First Aid; the training program shall provide an interactive mental health first aid training course administered by the state’s regional behavioral health authorities; instructors in the training program shall be certified by a national authority for Mental Health First Aid USA or a similar organization; the training program shall work cooperatively with local entities to provide training for individuals to become instructors.
Resolved, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) works with the Associated Student Organizations (ASOs), the University of California Student Association (UCSA), and the California State Student Association (CSSA) as well as any other regional and/or statewide student organizations to contact/reach out and/or to encourage all California members serving in the US House of Representatives and US Senate to support and advocate for the passage of H.R.1877, a bill that amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend through FY 2021 training grants for mental health awareness; the bill makes additional categories of individuals eligible to be trained to identify and respond to individuals with a mental illness.
Whereas, Mental Health First Aid allows for early detection and intervention by teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and addictions.
Resolved, the Student Senate of California Community Colleges recommends that all faculty and staff be trained in Mental Health First Aid; the training program shall provide an interactive mental health first aid training course administered by the state’s regional behavioral health authorities; instructors in the training program shall be certified by a national authority for Mental Health First Aid USA or a similar organization; the training program shall work cooperatively with local entities to provide training for individuals to become instructors.
Resolved, that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) works with the Associated Student Organizations (ASOs), the University of California Student Association (UCSA), and the California State Student Association (CSSA) as well as any other regional and/or statewide student organizations to contact/reach out and/or to encourage all California members serving in the US House of Representatives and US Senate to support and advocate for the passage of H.R.1877, a bill that amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend through FY 2021 training grants for mental health awareness; the bill makes additional categories of individuals eligible to be trained to identify and respond to individuals with a mental illness.