Taking a Leave of Absence to Address your Mental Health Challenges: What You Need to Know

When a person is in the midst of dealing with a serious mental health problem, sometimes going to school and caring for themselves can be too much to handle. It's important to know what options are available to make becoming mentally healthy again a top priority--this may mean needing to leave school for a while, or taking a Leave of Absence.

What is a Leave of Absence?

A Leave of Absence is a period of time when a student is not on campus attending classes. Because we understand that other things may come up for students, there are procedures that allow them time away when needed.

When should I consider a Leave of Absence?

You may consider a Leave of Absence if:

Your mental health is disrupting your ability to participate in academic and campus life, even with supports and accommodations.

You feel you are in crisis or that your level of distress is becoming intolerable.

You believe the stress and pressure of college is seriously disrupting your ability to focus on your well-being.

You feel you need an increased level of care.

You are not able to access the services you need at Washington College.

You feel that time away from classes would be beneficial for your long-term well-being.

How will taking a Leave of Absence affect me?

It depends. Often, students who believe the stress or environment at school has been detrimental to their mental health and/or believe they would benefit from time away will take a Leave of Absence. This time allows them to focus their energy and efforts on attending to their psychological well-being and self-care so that they will be better able to participate and enjoy campus life when they return. Many who take Leaves of Absence report the time was useful and, although it may have been a difficult decision, helped them in the long-term.

While this option can be very helpful for some, not all students feel it is best to take a complete Leave of Absence. For some, the option of returning home might present different challenges, and they may feel more comfortable in a school setting. If you are already working with a counselor in the counseling office, discussing the options is a good place to start.

The Provost's Office is also able to help you make a plan to move forward. Some important questions to ask include:

"What are my options"?

What are the specific requirements and documentation that I will need to file and when are the deadlines?

How will this impact my financial aid?

Are there any requirements that I must satisfy during my Leave?

Will I need to reapply to the college?

What are my rights?

Students with disabilities, including those related to mental health, have a right to reasonable accommodations relative to their disability. This includes extra time on exams or assignments, the ability to withdraw from specific classes, and leaves of absence. You should contact our Office of Disabilities Services to ask about accommodations. They will explain what documentation is required about your disability and how it affects your schoolwork. You can find more information about your rights, particularly surrounding involuntary leaves of absence, from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law’s Campus Mental Health Know Your Rights (pdf).

Where do I start?

Reach out for help to those who can help you on campus Let those around you know you are struggling.

While talking about your mental health can feel scary, a counselor in the Office of Counseling Services, a trusted friend, family member, or advisor can support you and help you determine the best course of action.

Discuss your options 

Review any potential changes to your current and future enrollment status. This could be extensions of assignments, taking an Incomplete for certain classes so that you may finish the work after the semester ends, dropping classes, or taking some time away from school completely. (The Provost's Office and the Office of Disabilities Services) Only you, with the help and guidance of those around you, know what is best when it comes to taking care of yourself.

Make and formalize a plan

After deciding on a course of treatment, and any changes in your status at school, you should make a formal plan for moving forward. Please refer to the college Student Handbook for important information about our Leave of Absence policy and disability accommodations. You will find instruction on how to provide certain documentation or satisfy certain requirements for your return to school as a full-time student.  You will receive written confirmation from various offices outlining the steps needed to return when you are ready.

 

Students will occasionally request that Counseling Services staff provide them the documentation necessary to receive a recommendation for an emotional support animal (ESA) as an accessibility accommodation. Accessibility accommodations are legally binding for the College, and because it mixes clinical and forensic roles, professional counseling center staff will not provide a diagnosis for a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), nor will they specifically endorse a request for accessibility accommodations.

The approval for an ESA requires a diagnosis of a psychological or physical disability from an outside provider. Diagnosis leading to a recommendation for an ESA depends on a recognizable degree of impairment in key areas of life functioning. Additionally, there needs to be an evaluation of how a particular ESA helps mitigate specific symptoms and improve functioning in ways that otherwise would not be achievable. For students who are in college housing on campus, the recommendation for assessment can be initiated by Counseling staff, but will get final approval by the Disability Access Specialist in the Office of Academic Skills.

Individuals who visit the OCS services for the express purpose of obtaining accessibility accommodations, will be offered a referral to a community provider.

If an ongoing client requests, in writing, that clinical information be shared with the Disability Access Specialist in the Office of Academic Skills. (or similar provider/entity off campus), this request shall be honored. Clinicians should provide a summary of the student's file while ensuring that they do not advocate for or endorse a specific accessibility accommodation or the need for accommodations in general.

Important numbers

Office of Academic Skills and Disability Access: 410-810-5799                                  oasFREEwashcoll

Office of Counseling Services:                                  410-778-7261           health_servicesFREEwashcoll

Research and our own experience reveals the power of group counseling in addressing many of the most common core themes and clinical concerns found in a college setting. Throughout the academic year, you may receive announcements about new groups that are forming. If you have an idea for a particular group, please feel free to let us know!

Faculty, staff and family members are often in a unique position to assist students in distress. Unfortunately, many students fail to get the professional help they need. The Counseling Center staff welcomes the opportunity to consult with families or members of the campus community to assist you in your work and interactions with students.

The Counseling Center is available to respond to crises and critical incidents affecting the Washington College community. Some examples of emergencies include, but are not limited to the following:

• when students are thinking about harming themselves or others,
• when students feel unable to function,
• when students have experienced a traumatic event, or
• when members of the campus community are seriously concerned about a student’s welfare or safety.

If the emergency is life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Counseling Services and the Psychology Department have teamed up to launch a new student support program called WAC-squared, or Washington College Wellness Advocacy Coaching. Under this innovative program, students are trained as coaches and available to listen to and support their peers at a higher level. The key difference between existing supports from the Peer Mentors and RA’s and this additional layer of frontline support is that the Wellness Advocacy Coaches – WACs – are trained in mental health first aid. WACs coaches are certified as mental health first aid providers.

Students are welcome to drop-in to talk with a WAC on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The coaches have an office in the Ben and Judy Kohl Room on the second floor of Miller Library.  Students can also call the office, but the phone line is only staffed during these same in-person hours and is not set up for voicemails. The phone number is 410-778-6118.

 

Yes, counseling can help people with severe emotional problems. However, students seek counseling for a broad range of issues that may include personal development, stress management, or life circumstance problems.

All counseling services are confidential.  The Counseling Center will not release information about students to family members, potential employers, or government agencies without a student’s written permission except where required by law, to protect the student or others from physical danger, or upon court order. No record of counseling is contained in any academic, educational, or job placement file.

The counselor is sensitive to the fact that any problem you are experiencing is important to you and is subjectively distressing to you. Depending on the type or severity of the problem, counseling can be very brief or take place over a period of time.

There is nothing weak about participating in counseling. In fact, entering counseling can be the first step in confronting and solving difficulties, which is, in fact, a courageous thing to do.

Counselors are trained to be sensitive to and respectful and valuing of diversity including individual differences related to gender, race/ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Your counselor may not have had the same experiences as you, but will be compassionate, respectful, and unconditionally supportive.