UC Berkeley Graduate & Professional Schools		Mental Health Task Force

R E P O R T S
 
MHTF Reports
 
2004 Graduate Mental Health Survey Report  html I word doc I pdf
A new study by graduate researchers and staff at UC Berkeley suggests that depression and other forms of mental distress are a serious problem for students in graduate school and professional programs (i.e. medical, law, and business schools). The survey, which included over 3100 graduate and professional students at UC Berkeley, is the first of its kind at the university. Nearly half of all survey respondents (45%) reported an emotional or stress-related problem that significantly impacted their academic performance or well-being. 67% reported that they have felt hopeless at times, 95% have felt overwhelmed, and 54% have felt so depressed that it was difficult to function...
 
May 2004 UHS Revenues Report | html |
A brief outline of the budget challenges faced by University Health Services, based on conversations with UHS Director and Asst. Vice Chancellor Steve Lustig.
 
April 2004 MHTF Report to the Graduate Assembly | html |
 
March 2004 MHTF Letter to Chancellor Berdahl | pdf |
The Mental Health Task Force wrote a letter to Chancellor Berdahl in March 2004 requesting greater funding for University Health Services. Citing the importance of mental health in any academic undertaking, the letter requests roll-backs of previous cuts to UHS, along with increased FTEs (full time equivalents) to handle increasing numbers of graduate and undergraduate students with serious mental health conditions.
 
December 2003 Proposal for Committee on Student Mental Health  html I word doc I pdf
This PROPOSAL outlines the charge, charter, and need for a standing subcommittee of the Academic Senate focused on student mental health issues. Included are recommendations for policy reviews, data collection, and faculty education initiatives; articles addressing mental health on college campuses; and a few statistics from the Berkeley campus. The proposal was submitted for consideration to the UC Berkeley Academic Senate in December 2003. No action has been reported as of April 2004. Update: As of November 2004, the UC Berkeley Academic Senate has endorsed the formation of a joint Senate-Administration working group on student mental health.
 
Ongoing Projects
 
Stories of Graduate Student Mental Health—The Good and The Bad
The Mental Health Task Force is working to evaluate the quality of campus mental health services and improve resources for graduate students. Especially in times of UC budget cuts, we need to make sure that mental health resources are considered a priority. Personal stories help draw attention to the importance of mental health support. So we've set up an ANONYMOUS online form allowing you to share your anecdotes with us. To contribute your story, visit our online submissions form.
 
Mental Health Outreach
We are developing PSAs for KALX, suicide prevention materials for the campus, and other outreach to graduate students at Cal. If you'd like to contribute your creative abilities, please email us.
 
Forum on Mental Health in Academia
Ongoing efforts are directed at organizing a campuswide forum or symposium on mental health in academia, involving staff from University Health Services and leading faculty researchers at UCSF and Stanford. Topics for discussion would include biological research on stress and the brain, public health findings on depression and productivity, and best practices in support of mental health in the corporate and academic worlds.
 
Other Documents
 
Recognizing Symptoms of Depression
University Health Services has launched a new website offering information on depression, suicide, and how to help. Every member of the UC Berkeley community should read about the symptoms of depression and how to get help for yourself, a friend, a colleague, or a student.
 
Charter for UC Berkeley Grad Mental Health Advisory Committee
In Fall 2003, UC Berkeley's Counseling and Psychological Services convened a committee to address graduate students' mental health needs. If you're interested in being involved with this UHS-administered committee, please read for more details. Or email the committee's chair, Sue Bell.
 
Assisting Distressed Students
As a member of the Berkeley graduate community, you may encounter a fellow student in distress. It's up to you to learn about depression— and to find out how to help. This is a concise, detailed guide to the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and more, along with a listing of help available on campus.
 
University Health Services
Concerned about depression? The Tang Center has several healthcare options: counseling & psychotherapy, career counseling, medical care, academic support, and psychiatric consultation.
 
Mental Health Policy Oxford University has a comprehensive site detailing their campus mental health policies. This is a great resource for departments and administrators interested in disseminating health-friendly policies more broadly.
 
Suicide Prevention
A useful website explaining how to recognize and provide help for a friend or colleague who is suicidal. Every member of the UC Berkeley community should read about suicidal behavior and how to find help for yourself, a friend, a colleague, or a student.