Choosing a college? Check their policies-some may deny matriculation or require weigh-ins for low BMI. Legally vulnerable. Follow us on FB http://ow.ly/91pzV
Suicide is the leading cause of death among college students (according to recent UVa study of 157 four-year colleges). It is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Firearms are the most frequent method of suicide, acounting for more than 50%. Many suicide attempts are impulsive. Since a crisis may pass, reducing access to leathlal means reduces suicide. Suicide attempts involving drugs or cutting, which account for more than 90% of all suicidal attempts, prove fatal far less often.
The number 1 cause of suicide for college-aged youth is depression. More than half of American college students have considered suicide at some points in their lives, 15 percent said they had “seriously considered” attempting suicide. (Drum, 2008)
According to the latest American College Health Association, in the 12 months preceeding the survey, approx. 30 % of college students feel so depressed it was difficut to function, 6.4 % had seriously considered suicide, and 1.1% had attempted suicide.
AZ could join Oregon, Utah, Wisc & Miss, requiring colleges to allow concealed guns on campus: http://bit.ly/z3AeCl
Kudos. ABA urges compliance w/ ADA re: access for individs using service animals, stresses individualized assessment. http://awe.sm/5fAUO
ABA resolution urges provision of accommodations for LSAT takers, opposes identifying recipients!! http://wp.me/p1UFyc-73 Awesome.
Student forced to withdraw from UMass after circulating “befriend me” letter. Overreaction may have violated his rights. awe.sm/5etzt
Quality campus #mental health services – the difference between being seen and getting a referral. http://ow.ly/8TiYg & http://ow.ly/8TiZ2
In choosing a college, make sure to consider the quality of mental health services available. Some colleges and universities provide very limited mental health services. Some things to consider include whether: there are both therapists and psychiatrists on staff, there is a cap on the number of appointments, there is the recommended ratio of 1 professional staff to every 1000 or 1500 students, services are available after-hours, there is wait for appointments, there is a fee for services.
Could anesthetic provide immediate relief for depression? http://ow.ly/8MaYo
Anxious about college admission? Colleges cannot ask about a disability before admission or treat an applicant differently during the admissions process because of disability.
Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities by colleges and universities. The United States Department of Justice, the agency charged with interpreting the ADA, has partially delegated authority to enforce Section 504 and the ADA to the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) with respect to the rights of college students.
The Department of Education regulations say that, except to take corrective remedial action, a college or university may not make pre-admission inquiries into whether an applicant is a person with a disability or needs accommodations. Prior to admission, a college or university may only inquire about disability status if it is taking remedial action to overcome past discrimination, the information requested is purely on a voluntary basis, and refusal to provide the requested information will not subject the applicant to adverse treatment. The college or university must also keep the requested information confidential, and use it only in accordance with its remedial action efforts. (34 C.F.R. § 104.42(b) and (c)).
After an applicant has been admitted, the college or university may inquire, on a confidential basis, whether the prospective student has a disability that may require accommodation. However, the inquiry may only be made to determine what, if any, accommodations are necessary, not to determine admission. (34 C.F.R. § 104.42(b)).
To see how the Office for Civil Rights has applied these regulations, see http://awe.sm/5eEDw
American College Counseling Association’s survey shows community colleges need more mental health services. http://awe.sm/5dkF9
The Law Office of Karen Bower 