Representative Emerson is advocating for a more comprehensive approach to tackling the mental health crisis on UW campuses. While he commends recent legislative efforts, he believes that more must be done to make a significant impact in students’ lives. He criticizes the passing of unfunded mandates and emphasizes the importance of providing immediate relief and fostering an environment that prioritizes mental health.
The representative co-authored AB 588 earlier this year, a bill aimed at providing funding for student mental health services at Universities of Wisconsin. He believes that passing this bill would enable UW campuses to hire more counselors and increase programming to help students in crisis and prevent others from reaching a crisis situation.
Emerson has witnessed firsthand the rallying of campuses around students in need and hopes that the legislature will similarly rally around the campuses to provide critical funding during this time. He stresses that this is a shared responsibility that transcends politics and calls for decisive action to create a safer, more supportive environment on Wisconsin campuses.
Additionally, Emerson provides resources for those experiencing a mental health crisis, encouraging them to reach out to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.