THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3147

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the university of hawaii.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that an urgent need exists for greater access to mental health services at the University of Hawaii.  Nationally, the percentage of teenagers and young adults who report mental distress, depression, and suicidal ideations has increased significantly over the past decade among those aged twenty-six and younger.  As anxiety and depression swells among students across the nation, student counseling centers in Hawaii, like their mainland counterparts, are unable to keep up with demand.

     Mental health counselors in Hawaii have also noticed the issues students show up with are becoming more serious.  At the University of Hawaii at Manoa, for instance, anxiety diagnoses have surpassed depression diagnoses, and suicidal ideations have increased in number, according to officials.

     Furthermore, Leeward community college, whose enrollment is 6,568 students--the highest of any University of Hawaii community college--does not have any psychologists on staff and refers students to the University of Hawaii at west Oahu.  Mental health counselor-to-student ratios are much more severe at community college campuses.  Only two of the University of Hawaii campuses meet the International Association of Counseling Services' recommended ratio of one professional to one thousand to one thousand five hundred students.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase students' access to mental health services across the University of Hawaii system by appropriating funds for additional psychiatrist, psychologist, and counselor positions at all campuses.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for additional psychiatrist, psychologist, and counselor positions at all campuses of the University of Hawaii system.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

UH; Mental Health Services; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to increase access to mental health services across the University of Hawaii system.

 

 

 

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