We the students, faculty, and staff respectfully call upon the President Stuart Bell, the Board of Governors, and the Administration of the University of Alabama to adopt the policy changes described herein in an effort to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health, better serve those afflicted, and stop the epidemic of suicide on this campus.

We respectfully demand:

1) Mental health crisis training for resident advisors and community directors be improved, as a student’s first point of contact.

2) The improvement of mental health crisis training for faculty advisors, as a student’s semesterly point of contact, in the indentification of students currently or at risk of experiencing mental health crisis or manifesting signs of an undiagnosed mental disorder.

3) The improvement of mental health crisis training for all faculty, as a student’s daily point of contact, BEYOND current active shooter training.

4) The U. of Alabama reform its service animal policy to include comfort animals for students with severe mental health disorders

5) The U. of Alabama commit to treating mental health disorders and ending campus suicides by committing additional resources to the Counseling Center, including increasing the number of counselors and better servicing for chronic disorders.

6) The U. of Alabama commit additional resources to the University Medical Center, Betty Shirley Clinic, including increasing the number of psychiatrists on staff and reforming its operating policies to reduce wait-times from an average of three months to same or next-day services.

7) The academic calendar reflect a concern for mental health in the expansion of the number and timing of recess dates in the spring semester in accordance with the timing of peak suicide rates.

8) The U. of Alabama adopt a policy of notifying all students of both on and off-campus resources available after a student, faculty or staff member passes away from natural or preventable causes (i.e. suicide).

9) The U. of Alabama expand its response to sexual assault through increased awareness campaigns for mental health resources targeted to victims of sexual assault.

*Note: a full, descriptive proposal will be presented to President Suart Bell and the Administration of the University of Alabama.