Are Colleges Protecting Students with Mental Illness from Further Injury?

TEXAS. Students with mental illness are vulnerable members of the college population. Each college has its own procedures for accommodating students with mental illness, but recent reports indicate that some schools may not be doing enough for students. According to the New York Times, some students have filed a class action lawsuit against Stanford University, claiming that the university coerced them into taking a leave of absence rather than providing them with adequate campus support.   

The Times reports that as rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among youth increase, some colleges and universities are struggling with how to handle students who are struggling. Some critics claim that the universities and colleges take too long to tell parents when students have a problem. Others claim that universities take steps to remove students from campus when they have issues so that they can avoid bad press or lawsuits.

Unfortunately, because of the ways in which mental health is often handled at universities, some students may be reluctant to seek help when they need it. This can lead to a student’s worsening condition.

While universities have a right and a responsibility to remove students who pose a danger to others from campus, the law isn’t entirely clear on how universities should handle students who have suicidal thoughts or who have harmed themselves. Some universities claim that these students are causing disruptions in dorms and on campus, but mental health advocates beg to differ.

Students pursuing lawsuits claim that their behavior was treated like delinquency by their campuses. Students who are suing their schools claim that they were banished from campus, that their own doctor’s recommendations were ignored, and in some cases, students were required to write letters to campus taking responsibility for their behavior before they were admitted back into school.

Forcing students in crisis to take a leave of absence can be devastating. Students can end up socially isolated from their friends on campus and many go on to attempt suicide back at home. Unfortunately, in some cases, the stress of campus life also proves challenging. Schools have to balance the student’s needs and the needs of the campus. However, the Times reports that some schools have blanket policies regarding how to handle students who are struggling with mental illness. They ask students to leave, which discourages students who need help from seeking the counseling they need before their situation worsens.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, students who have known mental health conditions should research schools for their support programs for students with disabilities. Some schools offer more support than others. Parents and students should take the time to gather information and documentation so that they can seek disability accommodations.

Finally, if you believe that your school’s actions resulted in your injury or your child’s injury, you may have certain rights under the law. More students are seeking class action lawsuits against schools that fail to provide adequate accommodations. The Cooper Law Firm are Texas personal injury lawyers who work with families who have suffered due to negligence or neglect. If you were asked to leave your campus as a result of your mental illness, you may be entitled to seek damages under the law. Visit us at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ to learn more.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037