Should the student be sent home on a medical leave? Mental health professionals discuss the challenges that colleges face in making that decision.
“They Sought Help on Campus, but Were Sent Home Instead” (news article, Aug. 31) seemed to criticize colleges for going overboard to ensure the safety of suicidal students. In May, The Times published “His College Saw Despair. His Parents Didn’t, Until It Was Too Late,” in which grieving parents called for colleges to do more for suicidal students.
In treating college students and suicidal patients every week, I sympathize with universities’ challenge of balancing individual autonomy against paternalistic care. Remember two facts about this age group: Their prefrontal cortex is still developing, which contributes to impulsivity, and the second leading cause of death is, in fact, suicide.
Professionals struggle with this conundrum every day: Is this person safe right now, or is a higher level of care needed? In my own career, I have overstepped the bounds in an abundance of caution, and I have worked with someone who insisted on remaining in school even though I thought a medical leave would be beneficial.
The experts do not get this right every time. Why would we expect colleges to do so?
Universities are required to respond to every student with a mental health problem, but this is different from treating every mental health problem. Meeting such an obligation would require every campus to build a hospital with psychiatric departments and intensive outpatient programs. Just as no one expects student health centers to provide open-heart surgery, no student counseling center can treat every severity level for all mental health disorders.
Medical withdrawals are designed to protect a student’s transcript and are not meant to be punitive. The student’s academic standing is protected to allow him or her to return.
With a national epidemic of college students struggling with anxiety, depression and suicidal ideas, universities face the daunting challenge of walking the middle ground between reflexively sending students home and waiting too long to do so.
Emotionally distressed students need thoughtful and sensitive professionals whom they can talk to about their troubles — not only capable therapists who can assess their functioning but also compassionate administrators who can deliver the news when it is time for troubled students to leave campus, and reassure them that they will be welcomed back when they are healthy again.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
