Post-Hospitalization for Mental Health Concerns Policy

According to research, the risk for self-harm is particularly high in the first few weeks following discharge from the hospital for mental health concerns. In light of this research, the measures that comprise this policy are intended to support students’ safety and wellbeing regarding their mental health concerns immediately following discharge from the hospital and in subsequent weeks.

Notification of Discharge

While in the hospital, a student must request and sign the hospital’s release of information form, permitting the hospital to notify the Associate Dean of Student Wellness regarding a student’s discharge from treatment, medication, and follow-up care requirements. This should be done as soon as possible after being admitted. The Student Wellness office will need to participate in a discharge planning session (often called “the family session”) to serve as the Wheaton College Liaison to answer questions related to what the College is able to provide for the student to safely return to the campus residential community. If the Student Wellness office is not involved in the discharge planning session, the student will not be permitted to return to campus.

Prior to Discharge

Before being discharged from the hospital, the student is required to schedule two appointments with College staff and communicate those appointment dates/times to the Associate Dean of Student Wellness:

1. An appointment with the Associate Dean of Student Wellness or designee, and
2. An appointment with the Director of the Counseling Center or designee.

The Associate Dean of Student Wellness will notify the Director of the Counseling Center and the Dean of Student Wellness of the student’s discharge date.

Required Meetings upon the Student’s Return to Campus

Check-in with Residence Life

The student will check in with his or her Residence Director (RD) or Graduate Resident Advisor (GRA) upon return to campus. The RD or GRA will help the student transition back to their residence dynamics.

Post-Hospitalization Assessment by Counseling Center

Upon returning to campus, the student must receive a post-hospitalization assessment at the Counseling Center. The purpose of the post-hospitalization assessment is to identify risk factors and protective factors, and to ascertain appropriateness for reinstatement to classes and campus housing relative to the safety and wellbeing of the student and the campus community.

The assessment with the Director of the Counseling Center or designee is a requirement immediately upon the student’s return to campus. If a student is discharged from the hospital during the weekend, the student will be required to go to the Counseling Center for a post-hospitalization assessment as soon as the Counseling Center opens on Monday morning.

Post-Hospitalization Care Plan

The student must also establish or review a Student Wellness Care Plan with the Associate Dean of Student Wellness or their designee. The purpose of the Care Plan is to partner with the student for their overall wellness, provide an outline of supportive measures for follow-up care and support, and discuss useful tools for a successful and safe return to campus life.

The meeting with the Associate Dean of Student Wellness or designee to establish (or revisit a previous) Care Plan is also a requirement and must take place after the student meets with the Director of the Counseling Center, or designee, and within 48 hours of the student returning to campus. If the student is discharged on the weekend, this meeting must take place the following Monday.

The meeting will cover:

• Wheaton College’s desire to support and care for the student;
• Establishing or revisiting a previous Care Plan to help the student successfully return to the College and provide on-going support;
• The process for withdrawal/re-application (if needed);
• Academic support options (if needed); and
• Other factors related to returning to campus.

Elements of a Care Plan may include but are not limited to the following commitments and/or requirements:

• Meeting regularly with a therapist/counselor;
• Remaining compliant with prescribed medications;
• Meeting with the RD/GRA for support and help with navigating any housing/roommate concerns;
• Having follow-up meetings with the Associate Dean of Student Wellness or their designee;
• Signing of Release of Information forms for the Counseling Center, Student Health Services, parents/guardians, and any external agency involved in follow-up care to be able to communicate with each other;
• Reduction of course load, if needed or required by treatment team;
• Meeting with a nutritionist;
• Attending classes;
• Follow-up appointments with Student Health Services, Wheaton College Counseling Center, and/or Learning and Accessibility Services;
• Follow-up appointments with a psychiatrist or outside agencies; and
• Any further requirements specified by the Counseling Center or Student Wellness.

The Director of the Counseling Center's approval for a student to return to classes constitutes a provisional clinical determination regarding the student's readiness to resume academic participation. Once the student has met with the Director of the Counseling Center, or designee, and received this approval, the student may return to classes that same day while the post-hospitalization review process is completed.

After reviewing the recommendations of the Director of the Counseling Center and the Associate Dean of Student Wellness, the Dean of Student Wellness retains final administrative authority to determine whether the student may continue enrollment or whether a voluntary or involuntary Leave of Absence is necessary based on the student's overall circumstances, including, but not limited to, safety, ability to engage in treatment, compliance with recommended care, and the welfare of the campus community. The Dean may uphold or modify the provisional approval to return to classes based on this review and may require a meeting with the student before making a final determination.

Information gathered by the Counseling Center and the Associate Dean of Student Wellness during the post-hospitalization assessment will be shared with the Dean of Student Wellness. The Dean will use the information provided to determine the appropriate level of care for the student and, when applicable, make the final administrative determination regarding the student's continued enrollment consistent with the provisions outlined in the Return to Classes section above.

Reasonable accommodations will be utilized to support the student’s engagement with treatment, at the level of care deemed necessary by the Dean, provided that such accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of the treatment or impose an undue burden on the campus community.