Student Assembly

March 18, 2010

To members of the Student Assembly,

I am writing to show my support for the submitted SA Resolution on Student Health. As staff member in New Student Programs, part of the Office of the Dean of Students, charged with undergraduate Orientation, this type of programming will reinforce many programs already offered during Orientation on stress, time management, and academic preparedness.

It has my full support.

Thank you,

Sarah H. Jones

Dear Members of the Student Assembly,

As students dedicated to promoting mental health at Cornell, we, the student staff of Empathy and Referral Services (EARS), join with Andrew Brokman and many others on campus, in calling for the creation of a required student health educational event during freshmen/transfer Orientation Week. Having read and discussed the proposed resolution at our monthly staff meeting last weekend, EARS agrees that a required orientation event could be an excellent, community-based approach to addressing student health issues, and mental health in particular.

It is understandable if students feel concerned about reaching out for support given that campus’s cultural environment often promotes individual success. As an anonymous counseling service, EARS recognizes how beneficial it is for students to communicate with an empathetic peer in moments of stress and difficulty. Yet mental health services are utilized only by those that recognize the resources. Many individuals do not know how our service works, or how it differs from others on campus. An orientation event can alter this lack of awareness and understanding, and ultimately develop a culture of comfort in taking advantage of such programs in times of distress

The student health issues that the proposed educational event would include, ie. “sexual harassment, substance abuse, academic stress, and the methods for determining and dealing with mental health problems” are all issues of that students bring to our service.

With regards to the recent losses in our campus community, we feel that such a program should focus primarily on mental health in the interests keeping the scope of the program manageable, both for organizers and participants. Such a program might include how to maintain one’s mental health despite the challenges of the academic semester, how to recognize signs and symptoms of depression, disordered eating, substance abuse, or other mental health concerns in oneself or in friends, and a thorough, myth-dispelling description of the types of mental health resources and related student interest groups at Cornell.We are prepared and eager to assist in the planning of such a program, and are available to participate in the program as discussion faciliators or as representatives of EARS as a student group.

We feel strongly that a required, orientation program for first-year students about student mental health will be extremely beneficial to the Cornell community, as it would prepare students to recognize the signs of mental and emotional distress in themselves and others, and enable them to respond in ways that could help change how students deal with stress and mental illness, from day one of their time at Cornell. Upon the Student Assembly’s approval of this resolution, we look forward to working on this important initiative

Sincerely,
EARS