Prestigious US university accused of discriminating against students with mental illness

Current and former Yale students sued the university Wednesday, accusing the school of systematically discriminating against students with mental health problems and pressuring them to withdraw.

The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status from the U.S. District Court of Connecticut, includes accounts by two current students, three former students and an alumni group representing several dozen others.

In the court filing, students described being visited in the hospital after Yale officials learned of suicide attempts or other mental health problems and being warned that if they didn’t leave the school voluntarily, the university could kick them out involuntarily.

Students who withdraw from the university are barred from visiting campus and all campus activities without prior permission from the school, including in-person summer classes that are open to non-students, the lawsuit states.

The policies require students on withdrawal to move out of their campus housing within 48 hours.

Since the story was published, alumni, faculty and students have expressed alarm and concern to Yale administrators over the university’s mental health policies.

In response, Yale President Peter Salovey defended the university’s mental health services and the way it treats suicidal students, while also promising more resources and possible changes in policy.

Washington Post

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