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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Nava		DATE TYPED	2/10/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Study College Student Mental Health Issues				SB	SJM 39
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
			NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial requests that the Legislature direct the Commission of Higher Education (CHE) and other appropriate state agencies to study the mental health issues of students attending New Mexico (NM) colleges and universities and to analyze the existing health and counseling services available to students, including assessment of the use of counseling services, rates of suicides and other serious behavioral incidents, the school years when most incidents occurred, the problems that led to the referrals and incidents, and the relationship of the behavioral health issues to dropping out of school. SJM 39 would require that the study include three- to five-year trends analysis of the above indicators and an analysis of current services provided including adequacy and timeliness of coverage, staffing patterns, emergency preparedness, practitioner training and funding. Copies of SJM 39 are to be provided to the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Directors of Student Services at each NM college and university.

Significant Issues

SJM 39 addresses and brings a focus to important issues for the older adolescents and young adults in NM that attend New Mexico’s colleges and universities. According to the DOH, national data indicate higher rates of behavioral health issues in college age students across the country, and since no such data is currently available for NM, SJM 39 would provide for the opportunity to obtain and clarify this data. In addition, results of the study could lead to the establishment of programs to help older adolescents and adults at colleges and universities who may be experiencing difficulties.

The DOH reports that some research has been done in the past by the DOH’s Office of Epidemiology that may be of value in this study including reviewing the differences between suicides of school age students from those who are no longer in middle or high school.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

This memorial carries no appropriation. Expenses incurred in implementing the provisions of this memorial would be borne by the CHE, other appropriate state agencies and the participating institutions.

LB/njw:lg