Suicidal Kids Being Kicked Off College Campuses
Monday December 11, 2006
The December 18 issue of People contains an article that I find troubling. In response to a wrongful death lawsuit filed against MIT by parents of an student who killed herself, many schools are adopting a tough policy towards attempted suicides, kicking them out of dorms or suspending them from school. One of the students interviewed, Ethan Helfand of George Washington University, says that no matter how depressed he feels he will never return to the university health center because he doesn't want to risk being asked to leave the university again. My fear is that many students who otherwise might ask for help will hide their feelings rather than getting treatment. Luckily Helfand is able to see a private psychiatrist, but not all students are that lucky. For some, the healthcare provided by the university health center may be their only means of getting help. They may also be afraid to come to their parents for financial assistance. While I do understand that a tough policy makes sense from a legal standpoint, I don't feel it is helpful to the students to make mental health care available, but create such an atmosphere of fear that they will not use it.
Comments
There’s got to be a better solution than expelling suicidal students. That’s crazy, as if though they don’t value the student’s lives as much as prestige, or money. There has to be a better way.
the picture of Ethan Helfand in People magizine looks like me. My own kids thought it was me in the magizine. I was just wondering how to get in touch with Ethan via Email to send a phote and chat about us looking like twins. My own wife thought it was me in the picture. Anything you can do to help would be great.
Robert Bernardy
Chicago, IL
rbernardy@sbcglobal.net
I was appalled at the comment you made stating:
“I believe that if Virginia Tech had taken firm steps to get psychiatric help for this young man–and, yes, removed him from school–when his teacher first noted the disturbing content of his writing, this tragedy could have been prevented.”
What would keep this young man from returning to the school and doing exactly what he did on 4/16? If it was determined that he was a danger to himself/others, then it appears that comittment may have been in order. To remove him from school because a teacher noted a “disturbing content of his writing” would further promote the stigma of mental illness that we need to stop, not make worse.
I am seriously requesting you to reconsider your position on this.