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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Mentally Ill Students: What To Do?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Colleges and universities are taking a harder look at their policies when it comes to identifying mentally troubled students, an examination prompted by an unstable student’s violent shooting rampage at Virginia Tech last week.
Navigating the land mines of federal privacy laws can put school officials in an awkward position when deciding what they can and cannot do for students who could be at risk. As I reported this past weekend, unless students are in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, there’s not a lot, legally, that schools can do. (Consider what Emory, UGA and Georgia Tech had to say on the issue.)
Mental health professionals say they have to walk a fine line. If privacy laws were not as stringent, fewer students might seek help — fearing what they say could be used against them.
But when should it be OK for mom or dad to be let in on the process?
If your child was seriously troubled or depressed while he or she was away at college, would you want a phone call from school officials? When would you expect one? What, if anything, should colleges do to make sure more students get help?
Andrea Jones is the AJC’s higher education reporter.
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