Give Schools the Choice

One size never fits all, especially when it comes to mental health. That’s why the Virginia State Legislature’s recent decision to prohibit the state’s public universities from punishing students who attempt to commit suicide with expulsion or mandatory time off will cause far more problems than it solves.

The bill, which awaits Governor Tim Kaine’s signature, is a response to a wave of suicides that have plagued Virginia campuses. The measure’s sponsor, Albert C. Eisenberg, claims that the legislation will force universities to offer proper care, yet while the proposal is clearly well-intentioned, placing restrictions on universities’ reactions to mental health crises puts an undo strain on medical resources, and ultimately hurts the very people it intends to aid.

As Paul J. Barreira, Director of Behavioral Health and Academic Counseling noted in an interview, providing treatment for suicidal students requires a huge commitment of resources that goes far beyond what most colleges are capable of. In addition, the roommates of mentally ill students are unfairly burdened with the stress and anxiety inherent in caring for a profoundly sick friend. In most cases, students who have attempted suicide recognize that they would be better off elsewhere, and the majority of withdrawals “end up being voluntary,” according to Barreira. In the few cases where students and university mental health professionals don’t see eye-to-eye, it seems illogical to take power out of the hands of experts who likely have the student’s best interests in mind.

Similarly, we also strongly oppose any system that automatically requires the withdrawal of any student who attempts suicide or expresses suicidal tendencies. Yet thankfully, policies that force the hands of administrators or university physicians in these cases do not appear to be the norm, making Virginia’s law all the more perplexing. Harvard, for example, deals with every student on a case-by-case basis, holistically evaluating the viability of the student remaining at Harvard. Though there may be cases in which a student is able to deal—or is even better off dealing—with their problems while on campus, universities are not mental hospitals; they often lack adequate resources to respond to the needs of suicidal students.

No one should be punished for mental illness. But forcing a student to take a leave of absence in order to receive proper care is not really a punishment at all; it’s simply a wise medical decision. Universities have a right to make an appropriate decision about a student’s future after due consideration. Politicians, on the other hand, should not be in the business of playing doctor.