Stigma?

[Justmehere]

Over the past 12 years, 4 major school shootings have happened in the small-ish state that I live in.

I came across something today. A major university near me has a website (of their own) linked on their main page that encourages students to fill out an online form that goes to campus safety (campus police) and student conduct (which issues sanctions against students) if they "suspect" any fellow students of having homicidal or suicidal intentions, self injury, depression, an eating disorder, or if they know of any fellow students who go to a hospital for a mental health problem.

Because those are all the same things.

And apparently "important to bring to campus safety's attention to keep our university community safe."

I called the university. I wanted to understand their thinking. They said it was needed to prevent another "movie theater style shooting."

I ended the call feeling baffled.

Now I'm really upset. I can't actually explain why this upsets me so much. I can't figure out of my reaction is reasonable. I am so upset that if someone knew of my battle with self injury, I would be seen as a possible serial killer. I can't stop crying.

Am I overreacting? Please tell me if I am. Please help me understand.

Yesterday, I applied for admission there to take one class. Tonight, I sent a short email stating I would like to withdraw my application. Sometimes it feels like felons get treated better than anyone with a possible mental health problem. There are programs to help felons get a college education. But struggle with PTSD? And that struggle means you might have self injury problems - in my state, apparently you are seen as being at risk for being a serial killer.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

No, you're not. I completely understand why you are upset. Do you feel comfortable saying the name of the university? I'd like to contact them myself. Tweet it, put it on social media, heck even contact National news. I honestly think it would make a good story.

I hope this isn't taken the wrong way, but when was the last time an anorexic girl went postal on a group of people?

That website violates HIPPA laws as a report about a student seeking mental health treatment CANNOT be verified without a witch hunt. This is why I say that it would be great for a national news story.

Not to mention the fact that it is a MAJOR slap in the face to veterans with PTSD who are using the GI bill to further their education. *Oh, it's great that you put your life on the line, came back with combat PTSD, and now want to further your education----but before that can happen, you need to be identified as a potential safety risk...* Yeah, crazy, right?!? Such a violation of rights!

 

[scout86]

I hope this isn't taken the wrong way, but when was the last time an anorexic girl went postal on a group of people?

That's pretty much exactly what I thought.

I can see a need to intervene with some people and there have been a bunch of shootings the past few years where it turned out there were probably red flags all over the place, but no one acted on them. But, they seem to be targeting a pretty diverse group here and most of them, while they could be a danger to themselves, they most likely aren't a danger to others. I'd kind of like to know how they plan to use any information they gather.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I understand why you are upset @Justmehere. That would upset me too, to go to that school becasue someone could report me. I would worry all the time if something like that happened at my college.

 

[Wolvescry]

Its very wrong because studies show that it is far more then being depressed, anorexic, or other that has driven people to mass murder. I am very surprised that a place were people were suppose to be educated would allow this. Its sounds to me like the education you may receive there may not be up to par.

I do think you should report this, you may help many receive justice for the stigma they are already facing.

 

[Friday]

The university I live by has the exact same thing.

It's purely because most students/faculty (when polled) are unaware of the free mental health services (counseling on several different levels; From peer and student, to PhD Psychologists & Social Workers, and each individual is able to participate at each level; as well as medication & med management; massage; acupuncture & other holistic / alternatives) offered to all students and staff that's not part of the student / staff insurance program, and not affiliated with Student Medical (aka the clinic). So if you call up the insurance program, the mental health and wellness program isn't something they tell you about, and if you go to campus medical, they might... If the volunteer knows about it, or they might not.

So the university wants students and staff to have a direct way to get in touch with this program if they or a friend needs help.

 

[a3a2]

It seems to me that they are aiming to keep students safe, not just from mass shootings, but also from suicide. It happens a lot. Lives taken far too young.

 

[Mystery]

Oh Justmehere, that must feel awful. So not fair. When you mean sanctions do you mean that they don't accept students or do they require something else. It is Stigma when you hear something like eating disorder thrown in too. I work from home these days but when I worked outside the home, I never disclosed my 'mental illness' on anything except my GP. I know it's probably even a crime sometimes. I set myself up to hide it and then find the going tough all the same.

Insurer's are increasingly making organizations take action on things that affect them. I wonder sometimes how much of this kind of thing goes on for satisfying the demands of insurers and how much is just plain discrimination. What ever science it's based on is clearly flawed and if it's not science that they based it on (hard to believe that), then it is against the law to exclude someone on the basis of mental illness but who wants to stand up and be exposed to that fight.

I so feel for you, you got yourself this far to take that step, somehow you must see it as an obstacle, not the end. ((()))

 

[Justmehere]

The website is on the student conduct page. Not the counseling page. Not the health center. But student conduct where they handle disciplinary action. The reports go to the police and student conduct. Not the counseling enter who can then notify police if needed. The website literally lists the "safety" officers that gets the reports. None are trained mental health providers. It's the primary page for the student conduct office. The student conduct code is listed as a secondary link. The front page of the student conduct disciplinary office is the "tell someone" form to "report" such "incidents."

Another university 20 miles away was sued 4 years ago for kicking someone out because they fainted on campus due to anorexia. Now this.

There is no such equivalent reporting form on the counseling page or the health center page.

1 in 5 grad students report having a problem with self injury at some point in their academic carear. This university really sees all of them as a danger?

With the shootings, there were red flags - so much that another university got sued for ignoring them about one shooter. But that guy was leaving death threat voicemails on his school psychiatrists voicemail. She reported him to police, but apparently there is discrepancy about how much she told the police... That still doesn't mean students should now be reporting other students to police and campus safety for anything and everything.

I can see a place where volunteers respond by linking the student to resources. Not passing on info to police and the university conduct office.

It feels like it creates such a culture of fear around mental illness. That doesn't actually foster safety. It fosters people hiding problems more and not asking for help. It might encourage people to report, but geez. It's not like "see something, say something" about all suspicious behavior that poses a threat - it's "tell someone" if someone has signs of mental illness. Mental illness already has a lot of stigma! This just heaped more on it. The message to mentally I'll stridents is that if are depressed, campus safety should know.

If it was like a help line on the health website, or anywhere but the student conduct (disciplinary) office, with HIPAA protections in place (which allows proper safety issues to go to police anyhow) then I would feel much more ok with it...

For me, I realized a couple of hours later that it somehow triggered memories of being a kid and getting physically abused if I cried or ever had a problem like a skinned knee that I needed help for. Because of that part of my past, I'm not trusting my perspective on it all.

Something about students reporting to student conduct if they know of a fellow student who goes to the hospital for help --- that feels really witch-hunt-ish to me.

The hospital is already required by law to let the police know if there is a safety issue, otherwise, it is private and protected under HIPAA for very good reason and none of the school's student conduct office business.

If the student went to the hospital, they can't address it with student conduct without having to give up info that is protected and private under HIPAA. Once student conduct is notified, the fact the student was hospitalized is no longer private and is now considered a part of the educational records for the student - which means such info should be passed on to any other person or school with a "legitimate interest" per educational records law. (I confirmed this with the school as well.)

If the student didn't go to the hospital, the university is now entertaining gossip and rumor. And how does the student prove an absence of going to the hospital and why are people even being out in that position?

It seems like someone at the university might have had a good idea badly implemented.

It wasn't there a year ago when I looked into applying for admission to the school. It's heartbreaking. I did most of my undergraduate work at this school years ago and stopped school when my PTSD kicked in (odd story how it all played out). It's upsetting to think I could go back and have to live in an extra layer of fear someone sees my scars and would report me.

Right now I'm trying to let the past childhood stuff that got triggered pass and then take another look at it.

If the reports went to the counseling center, that would be good! Maybe I could do something so thy change this so that happens instead.

It could be such a good thing to get the word out that their are resources and ways to get confidential help.

Argh.

 

[Recovery4Me]

At the college that I worked, the only authorized person (campus student adviser/counselor)was allowed the info. The Professor was informed if there was a special need and had to sign a paper to be willing to accommodate. The special need was not explained and it was up to the student to share what the student felt was important to have to facilitate the course.

For example the student might offer:
*partial hearing loss-(needed lecture notes)
*PTSD -(needed one on one time, special leave time or tutoring)

Please do consider that hospital stays and anything else is not discussed with staff or faculty directly ever..even felonies as you stated are not furnished to the instructor. Call your local news agency or contact anonymously through the on-line tips to start the ball rolling. Somethings can be changed to protect the student better by one person at a time.