And, honestly, one of the things this country could do with a lot less of is knee-jerk reactions.

When I think about it as applied to me, as if I were still in college – it would probably work. My parents are great, supportive, loving, and educated about mental illness. If I were having some mental health issues and posing a threat to myself or others on campus, and the college contacted them, they’d swoop in and save the day. Or, try to. Get me some help. Encourage me to take some time off. I don’t know, something.

However, everyone comes from different family backgrounds. One person’s parents may freak out. Another person’s parents may tell him/her to “get it together.” Another may cart them off to a psychiatric ward.

It just seems very slippery indeed.

And that’s not even taking into consideration that someone between the ages of 18-22 (you know, those traditional-aged college students) are technically adults and may not want their parents to know. Shouldn’t they have that right? Yes! Shouldn’t they be given that right even if contacting the parents won’t mean they’re (the students) at more risk of harming themselves and others? Yes!

Which brings up a few more questions –

1. If the college doesn’t contact the parents because the doctor decides that would put the student at more risk for harming himself or others, then…what’s the next step?

2. What about those students who aren’t of the traditional age? Those students who are in their 30s, married and with kids? How do they fit into this?

I’m very interested in seeing how this pans out!

The mentally ill have so little control over their treatment as is.

I think this is outrageous, and as a mental health consumer, terrifies me… I believe it says something about the general tone/fear that can potentially lead to more knee jerk responses…. that diminish my civil rights, and that are ineffective – creating more stigma, and not addressing more pivotal issues related to mental health and public safety/wellbeing – separately and as the two intersect.