Much of what students love about their experience at Union is directly linked to our location in the heart of the culturally rich city of Schenectady. Union students have a unique opportunity to share with the community that provides so much for us, and we can gain so much from that interaction. We believe that we can begin to bridge the divide between the Union community and the Schenectady community and create a sense of wellness and belonging between us by addressing the critical need in both communities for greater access to mental health care. Over the past decade, the mental health crisis has worsened among young people, with high school students reporting a 40% increase in symptoms of depression. Children from low-income communities of Hamilton Hill and the Stockade have 4.8 times higher rates of mental health disease and disorder visits to the emergency room, and 5.2 times more hospitalizations compared to the state average. While Schenectady has 232 mental wellness providers per 100,000 residents, higher than Saratoga, Green, and Rensselaer counties, Schenectady still has the highest rate of mental health disorders in NY state. Barriers to access of services include stigma about seeking support, the lack of knowledge about mental health resources, access to mental health care, and coverage by Medicaid. We want to address these barriers to care through evidence-based wellness programming and support local youth in our community. We believe we can address the stigmas around mental health by offering outreach activities through a mobile tiny home built collaboratively by Union students and Schenectady youth. The tiny home will bring Union students outside the walls of campus and into Schenectady neighborhoods, creating a bridge where our two communities can meet for mutual learning and growth.
Primary Speaker
Faculty Sponsors