Should students be expelled from college for severe clinical depression or suicide attempts?

Question

Here is a recent article about the subject:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060901/ap_on_he_me/college_suicides

Answer 1

I took a look at the news article and simply could not believe what I was reading. What sort of institution has penalties for clinical depression and suicidal behaviour?

I could somewhat understand the rationale for such a policy, but the remedy is totally inappropriate. Obviously universities want to not be liable for what a student might do while enrolled there, but in many ways, this is like curing the disease by getting rid of the patient.

Depression and suicidal behaviour is not a real choice. Unlike some things that students get into, like drug addiction, these mental conditions are no one's fault, not the student and not the university. It's a disease just as much as cancer is a disease.

A university shouldn't play the role of parents as that is not their job. However, a university should play the role of a community, and a community does not treat its members in this way. A community comes to the aid of their members, not just remove them from the community.

Treatment options should be made available, either by the university itself (large ones usually have these anyway) or through arrangements with local governments or hospital systems. While it would be nice if they were available free-of-cost to the student, the financial reality is that it would be a burden on the school. However, most universities that I know of require some kind of health insurance, so that lessens the costs.

We need to break out of the old patterns of thinking that mental illness is something that has blame associated with it and act in the proper way of acknowledging it as a disease that needs to be treated, not sanctioned. In this way we improve our civilisation by doing what is expected, coming to the aid of its weakest members, which is how a civilisation should be judged.

Answer 2

Am glad that these rules are being relaxed and changed. I personally think being expelled is way too harsh and inappropriate for this illness. If a student has depression or a mental condition or whatever but is able to continue her studies then why should there be a need or her/him to leave at all. Glad that there area laws particular the Disability laws to stop these type of unfair actions to continue. In the case where a student is just too ill to keep up her studies or a threat to other students then perhaps having a conference with the student,parents and so on to determine what should be in the best interest of the student regaining her/his health should be called but expulsion should never apply to any type of illness. Were a student to come down with a long term physical illness that prevented keeping up the studies I doubt that expulsion would be a option.

Answer 3

i know what that is like. but you cannot blame any of your thoughts on clinical depression. i have it. this is a very selfish act. i have thought about commiting suicide and the only thing that has stopped me is 1. hurting my friends 2. hurting my family 3. leaving my boyfriend 4. effecting everyone else in my life. i have had a difficult life and i am only fifteen. i have thought about suicide many times and attempted it three times. until, i found my boyfriend. do not think about only yourself. and if you think commiting suicide will bring a stop to everything...it won't. whatsoever. i have had severe clinical depression along with being bi-polar and ADD. i have had to deal with more stress along the years. and that's a part of life. do not commit suicide if there are people who love you out there, and if you know you can get through this hard time. life isn't a peaceful walk through the meadow...subtract anything that can hurt you. think about people who have a worse life than you, then think about them still being alive. don't kill yourself.

Answer 4

No, but the dean should make the student's parents aware of the issue. For suicide attempts, yes, because suicide is against the law. And if the student unsuccessfully tries to kill himself, then he could go to jail. But for severe clinical depression, the student just needs therapy or Zoloft.

Answer 5

I read that same story and I disagree with the Universities behind these expulsions. They need to seek guidance and help for their students who are suffering from depression. This is usually the first time these kids have been away from home and this will lead to distressed students. College isn't easy, they need certain outlets for students who are considering physical harm and suicide.

Answer 6

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 7

No. It's discriminant. It's like saying students who have HIV cannot attend school or students who are physically disabled cannot attend school. There should be (and there is at some schools) help for the students suffering from depression.

Answer 8

expelled might not be the proper wording but certainly they should at least be temporarily dismissed. College isn't the proper place for treatment and the student is just bothering other students with their drama

Answer 9

I dont think so, if the person is trying or wanting to seek professional help and takes the meds needed then no they shouldnt be expelled

Answer 10

Is depression a good enough reason to be kicked out of school?