Gov. Cooper announces million-dollar funding for mental health services
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced $7.7 million will soon provide more mental health services for students.
According to a press release, the funds will offer suicide training for faculty and staff and provide tools to support students in crisis. The funds will also allow for students across the UNC system to have continued access to the after-hours mental health hotline.
Becky Laman is the senior vice president of Strategy at TimelyMD. It’s a virtual health and well-being platform for students in college.
"We're all familiar with how student success has an economic impact on the communities in which they live, learn and work," Laman said. "Now we're seeing states take the lead in providing sustainable funding. to ensure students can receive the mental health support that they desperately need."
We spoke with local students about their thoughts about mental health in school.
"I think it's something that flies under the radar because I think that particularly minority students get placed as a number. And I think it's not really taken care of," said Cameron Parker, a senior at UNC School of the Arts. "I think sometimes some of the schools and colleges don’t really put into perspective what the students are actually going through. Because everything is compounded by their own experiences."
There are resources like TimelyMD available for students to utilize in times of need.
"Nearly seven out of 10 students are experiencing mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, or depression," Laman said. "The number one reason students leave college is for mental health reasons. So no matter who you are, it's helpful to check in with students to find out how they're doing. How are they really feeling and what do they need to stay on track of their well-being and to reach their educational goals."