Prevent mental breakdowns: Mental health initiative encouraging but underutilized

A new University service designed to pre-empt serious mental health breakdowns should be given more attention despite the lack of interest from students.

The program allows students with a history of mental illness to define their symptoms in a notarized legal document that identifies the signs of the beginnings of a mental health breakdown and recommends how that student should be treated if these symptoms arise.

This notarized document may list medicines or contact information that may be important should the student's mental health deteriorate.

This innovative program is an excellent utilization of resources because it acts as a safety net for those with serious mental illnesses.

This pilot program started in October by the University's School of Social Work is the first to be offered to college students in the U.S.

This program will only take effect when a health care provider deems the student no longer capable of making his own decisions about health care.

Unfortunately since its inception the program has received few sign-ups — despite the fact that an estimated 15 percent of students suffer from some type of mental illness during college. For students who do suffer from a serious mental illness this could be a life saver.

Anything from directing family members to pay the month's rent to ensuring professors are notified of class absences this document can be used as a living will.

This program is particularly important in a society that sometimes ignores the serious consequences of mental illness.

Although many students have not utilized this program that certainly doesn't make it a failure as it was only recently created. Students with mental illnesses should consider taking part in this study that has the potential to significantly improve how mental illness is dealt with in college settings.