A recent USG Mental Health Report not only outlined a set of ambitious proposals for the coming year, but also called on students to “join the broader debate on mental health resources at Princeton University.” As editorial board, we accept this invitation. More than ever, it is imperative that Princeton University Mental Health expand his resources and practice transparency in order for the university and her USG to deliver on their promises.
Universities are committed to implementing various USG recommendations.We urge governments to be transparent in their implementation of these keys Measures to improve student mental health and provide students with more avenues for feedback and discussion.
Universities need to focus on consistently providing mental health resources to students, rather than on passive initiatives. Simply flooding student bodies with resources following a disaster on campus is not enough. Instead, even in the absence of tragic events, mental health resources should be made more visible and accessible, pushing them to the forefront of campus life.
USG’s Mental Health Report included substantive and commendable reforms to proactively address mental health and improve student access to mental health resources. These plans include providing 24/7 on-demand counseling through Telehealth lines, increasing the number of counselors to expand the availability of counseling and psychological services (CPS) drop-in hours, and increasing the number of marginalized backs. These included improving the CPS experience for grounded students and increasing off-campus transportation. care, and work with peer academic advisors (PAAs) to improve academic support. The timelines for these proposals vary, with some slated to be implemented as early as next semester and others taking him a year to come to fruition.
These goals cannot go unnoticed. Given that implementation timelines vary widely, how should we, as students, measure and evaluate our college progress? How can we ensure that these changes are truly effective? Are you sure?
Consistent transparency and dialogue from universities throughout the implementation process are required to ensure that these proposals become successful policies. The USG report promises to “provide quarterly updates on progress towards each goal.” These updates must do more than just ask students to rate their progress. It should also provide a space for participating in discussions.
Only by creating a consistent feedback loop can students identify problems and provide fixes in real time. Without greater transparency, accountability is undermined and real positive change cannot happen.
A promise was made. The rest is provided by the university.
The 146th Editorial Committee
Chair
Ruyah Rahin ’23
member
Genrietta Turbanova ’24
Kaitlyn Limesthal ’23
Rohit Narayanan ’24
Abigail Labiet ’25
Mohan Seti Charity ’24
Ndeye Thioubou ’25
Lucia Wetherill ’25
