By Destinee Moore
Depression and suicide are issues that have been prevalent across college campuses for years. During their college years, students experience depression on a large scale. Many times in college, students experience true independence for the first time, and are ill prepared for that experience. Students have more trouble dealing with financial issues, relationship conflicts, and academic problems without their authority figures more regularly available. These factors often lead to serious cases of depression and suicidal thoughts in college students. Colleges can take many precautions to help students cope with these issues, such as psychiatric services and more financial opportunities for students.
Virginia became the first state in 2007 to pass legislation that bars public colleges and universities from punishing or expelling students "solely for attempting to commit suicide, or seeking mental-health treatment for suicidal thoughts or behaviors." Students should not be punished for seeking help with stressful issues. This adds to students’ reluctance to seek aid in coping with their issues. The new legislation suggests that institutions have a basic duty to prevent student suicide. This opened the doors for school to face more lawsuits for students who committed suicide from depression at their institutions. An institution can be held liable if the court determines that it somehow caused the suicide.
Counseling and suicide preventive services should be regularly made available by college and universities, yet the college/university should not be held responsible for a students’ depression or suicide attempts. Regular services to help students cope with depression will lead to safer and healthier environments for students. Colleges should help promote healthier living for students but are not responsible for student’s depression. Any services that promote safer and healthier experiences for students should be implemented on college campuses.
Response By: Charise Patterson
There is no doubt that depression is often overlooked in our communites, specifically regarding our genreation. It has become taboo to speak upon and not really looked at as a "disease" more so as a disfunction. This causes many teenagres to leave their depression untreated and ignored only making problems worse. But it is not the responsibility of colleges to fix nor suffer from this personal problem. Families, friends, and the individuals should hold this stand; not the school which the individual attends.
Though a college is your place of residence for four years, it is not your home. The institution sereves to educate and that is it's main purpose. Most universities to educate their students upon mental and physical health issues. But "promoting" healthy living is in no way the institutions job to do. Students get stressed about school works, social problems, and extra cirriculars. This stress can lead to depression. But these are stress factors that student controls, not the school.
Depression is very serious, and if a student approaches a counselor at most istitutions about the depression they will be referred to someone who can accurately help them. But if the school can be blamed and possibly punished for the suicidal actions of a depressed student, it is common sense that they would want no part in fixing the problem. Colleges and universities would much rather stay out of it.
I don't look at this as being wrong or uninvolved, it is simply the best and safest measure for schools to take. No one wants blood on their hands, and when it comes to the depression of college students the college should have no part in it.
Depression and suicide are issues that have been prevalent across college campuses for years. During their college years, students experience depression on a large scale. Many times in college, students experience true independence for the first time, and are ill prepared for that experience. Students have more trouble dealing with financial issues, relationship conflicts, and academic problems without their authority figures more regularly available. These factors often lead to serious cases of depression and suicidal thoughts in college students. Colleges can take many precautions to help students cope with these issues, such as psychiatric services and more financial opportunities for students.
Virginia became the first state in 2007 to pass legislation that bars public colleges and universities from punishing or expelling students "solely for attempting to commit suicide, or seeking mental-health treatment for suicidal thoughts or behaviors." Students should not be punished for seeking help with stressful issues. This adds to students’ reluctance to seek aid in coping with their issues. The new legislation suggests that institutions have a basic duty to prevent student suicide. This opened the doors for school to face more lawsuits for students who committed suicide from depression at their institutions. An institution can be held liable if the court determines that it somehow caused the suicide.
Counseling and suicide preventive services should be regularly made available by college and universities, yet the college/university should not be held responsible for a students’ depression or suicide attempts. Regular services to help students cope with depression will lead to safer and healthier environments for students. Colleges should help promote healthier living for students but are not responsible for student’s depression. Any services that promote safer and healthier experiences for students should be implemented on college campuses.
Response By: Charise Patterson
There is no doubt that depression is often overlooked in our communites, specifically regarding our genreation. It has become taboo to speak upon and not really looked at as a "disease" more so as a disfunction. This causes many teenagres to leave their depression untreated and ignored only making problems worse. But it is not the responsibility of colleges to fix nor suffer from this personal problem. Families, friends, and the individuals should hold this stand; not the school which the individual attends.
Though a college is your place of residence for four years, it is not your home. The institution sereves to educate and that is it's main purpose. Most universities to educate their students upon mental and physical health issues. But "promoting" healthy living is in no way the institutions job to do. Students get stressed about school works, social problems, and extra cirriculars. This stress can lead to depression. But these are stress factors that student controls, not the school.
Depression is very serious, and if a student approaches a counselor at most istitutions about the depression they will be referred to someone who can accurately help them. But if the school can be blamed and possibly punished for the suicidal actions of a depressed student, it is common sense that they would want no part in fixing the problem. Colleges and universities would much rather stay out of it.
I don't look at this as being wrong or uninvolved, it is simply the best and safest measure for schools to take. No one wants blood on their hands, and when it comes to the depression of college students the college should have no part in it.