<p>When a student is being treated for a psychiatric illness, should the school screen them out?
<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194020-1,00.html[/url]”>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194020-1,00.html</a>
In their late teens/early 20’s seems to be a time when a diagnosis of depression or other pyschiatric illnesses first presents.
I am not a dr, but " I read a lot" and it seems that more severe cases may start much earlier- the girl with aneorixia in 6th gd for example.
The girl quoted in teh TIME article, was admitted to Cornell, but because she was having increasing severe symptoms,she felt she had to hide how she was doing, in order to stay in school.
This behavior, IMO endangered not just her academic standing, but her life.
I think some students- who believe their illness to be under control, have difficulty with the stresses of college life-and find themselves- out of control.
I don’t think this is unique to colleges, I actually think that the proximity of health care and of friends, may give young people more support than if they were out in the work world, living by themselves or a roommate.</p>
<p>But I don’t think there should be a stigma to taking a year off to get yourself sorted out. I understand the panic that students may feel, when that is suggested to them, but at Reed for instance- many, students take a year off.NOt necessarily because they have mental illness, but because they want to prevent it 
My daughter was glad about taking a year off- it was disappointing not to graduate with her friends from freshmen year, but she had other friends, and IMO college is more about how you are helping yourself grow and learn, than staying with the same group you started with.( she didn’t take a year off because of an illness- but for many reasons- she needed to retake a class- she was getting worn out & there was no way she could have retaken organic chem and write a 45 page biology thesis at the same time)
I think schools should still admit students who have illnesses, if it seems they are manageable, if they prove to not be manageable, then I think it is reasonable to ask or to enforce the student getting additional help so they can return to school.
I wouldn’t advocate a system that encourages students to hide their concerns, becuase they are afraid that it will result in their not being admitted or expelled.
We have fun runs and charity drives for just about every illness you can think of. But how many illnesses have whole professions dedicated to them ( therapists and shrinks et al), but outside of perhaps Manhattan and L.A. people are still embarrased and ashamed and guilty about their affliction?
If schools can make themselves more adaptable for the physically disabled- I would also like to see more schools allowing students to take a lighter class load, if necessary . Who cares if they graduate in 6 years or 4?
Is it really going to make that much difference in teh long term?</p>