Mental health issues on campus require consideration of legal issues, risks

Fostering individual social and emotional growth is critical to the work of institutions of higher education. New students find themselves in challenging and unfamiliar environments when they arrive on campus and participate in a school's educational and social activities. And beyond new students, within each campus community are people dealing with the gamut of human experiences. Individual mental health issues, then, frequently present themselves to administrators, faculty, counselors, or other staff. Regardless of whether an institution is broadly open to the community, such as a community college, or a highly selective institution, for some, the pressures, environment, and physiological factors bear on mental health. As colleges and universities address students’ emotional health, they should be aware of the legal framework for addressing individuals with mental health needs and potential risks associated with acts institutions take or fail to take.