Mental health is not merely a personal struggle. It is not something a person should be left to deal with alone. It is not something that can be swept aside. Mental health issues come from within. They stem from the mind — what makes a person who they are. In the past few decades, there have been major strides in mental health advocacy, and the negative stigma associated with mental health struggles have certainly decreased. However, we are far from finished.
We live in a society where people feel afraid to share they have received mental health counseling. We live in a society where people worry others will view them differently — think they are insane, incompetent or out of control if they see a therapist. We live in a society where people will say it’s completely OK to need help, then look down on those who actually seek it. It is almost as if you actually have to have sought help yourself to understand and show empathy.
I can understand why it may be easier to empathize with someone once you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, but it should not take a shared experience for you to wish the best for someone and believe them. So many people have stood up and testified the UF Counseling & Wellness Center either greatly helped them or could have but was unable to because of the lack of personnel or funding.
I know it’s been said a lot over the past week or so, but I’m going to say it again. The fact our representatives in Student Government thought we would rather save a few dollars each semester than help our friends get the help they need is, in my opinion, disgusting. I don’t entirely blame SG, although I think this decision was a poor one. I understand there is more going on behind the scenes with these decisions than we know about. I know it’s not personal. I know it’s not as easy as signing a paper. However, I have to wonder: What do our representatives think of the rest of us if they are more focused on keeping their promise to not raise student fees than they are on doing things that may reap huge benefits? I know not everyone uses these services, so not everyone is as focused on this area of UF as students who use them or personally know people who do.
You may be thinking, “Well, my friends haven’t benefitted from the center.” Are you sure? Even if you think they haven’t, you might be wrong. Even if those who benefit from the center are not people you would call your friends, does that mean you shouldn’t care?
It may be up to SG to represent us, but it is up to all of us to let them know what we want. If they think we’d rather have lower fees and a music festival, that’s what they’re going to want to provide. They are aiming to provide for their constituents who speak the loudest.
There is a degree of common sense to this, I’ll admit, but we need to not only have priorities, but make them clear. Personally, I would be delighted to pay an extra few dollars each semester to hire more counselors for the CWC. I encourage you to do the same. Sign that petition. Attend that meeting. If you’re passionate, apply for a seat in Student Senate. Make it happen, Gators. After last week, we know what we’re capable of doing when we come together and stand up for what we believe. Make your voice heard, and make your voice matter, because it does.
Taylor Cavaliere is a UF journalism and psychology junior. Her column appears on Mondays.
