Hi,
I am a bit concerned about some of the assumptions here. Firstly, I don't
think we have the right to insist that someone receive treatment for a
condition, particularly when the treatment has such serious and often
life-threatening side-effects. Secondly, it is assumed that people with
mental illness will be well if they take their medication. This is patently
inaccurate. I have worked in a mental institution for people with chronic
mental illnesses where not taking medication was not an option and those
people remained extremely unwell and very psychotic at times. In fact, we
would not really need mental hospitals at all if the medication worked for
everyone at all times.
I understand the concern for other people in this situation and of course
all efforts should be made to keep other people safe. However, I would be
very concerned if we included monitoring compliance with treatment in our
role. Most of the literature on violence and mental illness states that,
statistically, we are as much at risk of assault from people of both sexes
between the ages of 15 and 25 as we are from people with a mental illness.
Alcohol certainly increases that risk in everyone and it may be possible to
focus on drunken behaviour on campus rather than the presence or otherwise
of a mental illness.
I also have many students who refuse conventional western treatment for
other conditions e.g. adrenal gland tumour, diabetes, etc. As this may be
associated with a medical emergency, do we then extend the treatment
condition for enrolment to these people?
What do other people think about this? I realise that the mental health
legislation may also differ between countries and this may also affect what
we can and cannot do.
Regards,
Anne
Anne Berquier
Disability Adviser
Student Support Services
The University of Queensland
Telephone: (07) 3365 1757
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of fiona mcgrother
Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2005 2:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Any advice?
Hi there,
it would be interesting to know if there were certain conditions were
placed on the student prior to their expulsion. I.e. did someone say to them
that they may be allowed to return if they had medical evidence to support
that?
The most helpful condition, I feel is to ask the student to have very
regular contact with a member of staff. I have been a point of contact in
this context previously (in my former role as mental health co-ordinator).
This has been very helpful in terms of assessing how things are going and
whether or not someone is taking their treatment seriously. I have
occasionally got the students permission to liaise with the teaching staff.
This helps to clarify any issues there may be on all sides.
I would always say, however, that if a student is not taking their treatment
seriously and is not taking the appropriate support that is made available
and accessible to them, then the instituion has a duty to all its other
students as well and it is perfectly reasonable in some circumstances to
look at the options, one of which may be a disciplinary one.
Fiona
>From: "Turner, Paddy" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff."
> <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Any advice?
>Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 17:06:04 +0100
>
>Hello all,
>The situation is this:
>A student with a mental health difficulty, taking medication, was asked
>to leave the course as a result of violent and aggressive episodes
>brought on by alcohol abuse and failing to take the medication.
>No-one was physically hurt although many students were shaken up by the
>episodes, one student left the course through fear as a result of these
>behaviours and property was damaged.
>
>The student has now requested to return to the course and has medical
>evidence stating that s/he is fit to return, that s/he now understands
>the consequences of failing to take the medication and of drinking to
>excess.
>
>The tutor responsible for re-admitting is, however, convinced that s/he
>will be unable to refrain from further outbursts under the pressure of
>the course and is extremely anxious for himself and for the other
>students. In addition the course is studio-based meaning that students
>are left unsupervised sometimes quite late into the evening.
>
>Clearly, in theory this student should be given another chance, but
>there are quite genuine concerns for the safety of others. My questions
>are:
>Has anyone had a similar experience with an outcome that worked or
>didn't work, and why?
>Can anyone suggest any support or fall-backs to ensure the safety of
>the other students? Could the H&S Act be invoked to prevent
>re-admission, do you think? Could conditions be placed on his return,
>either limiting access or perhaps a suspended sentence as it were, with
>regard to exclusion?
>
>Any advice gratefully received on or off-list
>
>Paddy
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