The policy changes come two months after a Washington Post story He described students who were pressured by Yale officials to withdraw once the university learned of their mental health problems and then forced to reapply to return.
The story was based on the accounts of more than 25 current and former students, who have criticized the university’s influx of $41.4 billion in scholarships, but its lack of services and punitive policies for those in crisis. Many students described avoiding seeking counseling and hiding suicidal thoughts for fear of denial.
After publishing the story, Alumni and faculty members He expressed his concern to Yale officials and demanded changes. In November, current and former students lawsuit Accusing the school of systematically discriminating against students with mental illness and pressuring them to drop out.
In a phone interview, Lewis said Yale wanted to “make it clear to students that their first priority in dealing with mental health issues should be mental health. And obviously, we want people to be able to continue their education.”
The goal of the new policies, he said, is to “make it seamless for people to be able to come back,” and to avoid treating students who take time off for health reasons the same way students with disciplinary issues are treated.
In his email to students, Lewis wrote that the changes were made after “listening to current and former students, and collaborating with colleagues across the university” and thanking “the many students, past and present, who have shared their experiences.”
Addressing all students in crisis, he said, “It is my hope that these revised policies will ease any concerns about your student status, and allow you (and the people who support you) to focus on what’s important.”
In the past, many students who were suicidal or had mental health problems said they were pushed by Yale officials to withdraw, sometimes while in the hospital. Those who did had to leave campus in 72 hours or less and were prohibited from setting foot on campus without express permission from the dean.
In interviews with The Post, several students — who relied on Yale health insurance — described losing access to treatment and health care at the moment they needed it most.
The policy changes announced on Wednesday have been reversed many of these practices.
University officials said that by allowing students in mental crisis to take time off instead of opting out, they would continue to receive health insurance through Yale. They can continue to work as a student employee, meet career counselors, access campus and use library resources.
Finding a way to allow students to keep health insurance would require overcoming significant logistical and financial hurdles, Lewis said, since New Haven and Connecticut are where most of the health providers in the Yale system are located. But under the new policies, students on leave can switch to “affiliate coverage,” which will cover out-of-network care in other states.
In recent weeks, students and mental health advocates have asked why Yale doesn’t allow students with mental health issues to take fewer classes. New policies will now allow students to drop their course load into two classes under special circumstances. But students can only do so if they need a significant time for treatment and if their petition is approved.
In the past, withdrawing students had to submit an application for reinstatement, which included letters of recommendation and evidence that they had been kept “constructively busy” during their absence. Under the new policies, students returning from medical leave will submit a “simplified reinstatement application” that includes a letter from their physician and a personal statement explaining why they left, the treatment they received, and why they feel ready to return.
The university has clarified, in its updated online policies, that it still reserves the right to impose involuntary medical leave on students in cases where “there is a significant risk to the student’s health or safety, or to the health and safety of others.”
The changes were announced a day before Yale officials are due to meet for settlement talks with a group of current and former students who have filed a proposed lawsuit against the university, demanding a policy change.
In a statement, one of the plaintiffs called out the nonprofit group Ellis to RachelWe’re still in negotiations. We thank Yale for this first step. But if Yale gets a degree for its work in mental health, it will be incomplete in best.”
The two sides met once already on January 9.
“The parties remain engaged in ongoing settlement discussions,” said 0 one of the attorneys representing the students, Monica Porter of Basilon Center for Mental Health Law. “There are still many issues to be addressed. We hope for fruitful talks.”
But after decades of championing mental health with little change at the university, some students said they were surprised by the changes Yale had already made.
“I really didn’t think it was going to happen during my time here,” said Aquile Mazara Larte, a Yale sophomore who advocated for mental rights throughout his time at the school. “I’m starting to think in all the situations that myself and the people I care about are in how much sooner we could have used these policies.”
Lartey — a leader in a student disability rights group called DEFY — recalled getting frustrated with Yale over and over whenever he struggled with his mental health.
“I lost my healthcare when I decided to take a vacation. I lost access to medication and treatment.” “It made it more difficult to go back to campus, as I couldn’t use my time to work on my mental health, and I came back without support. What I hope will happen after the policy change is a shift in culture and attitude, so that students who need help are not penalized for it but are Support them instead.”