The $60k is for rendering an education, not providing psychiatric counseling and a safe environment for recovery.
You probably charge your employer $60k (+/- whatever) for rendering services; are you now obligated to help your boss (or CEO/whoever) through an episode of bipolar? Schizophrenia? I mean, they gave you $60k, right?
My colleagues were very supportive during a bout of anxiety and depression I had in 2012. I couldn't sleep properly for 2 full weeks and was a complete mess. They let me take an unscheduled absence (paid) for a few days because in the long run I'm more useful and productive to the team if I have a chance to heal when I'm unwell. A psychological illness is as real as a physical one and just as damaging. I'd rather be in a society that cares as standard, rather than counts the dollar value.
The $60k is for rendering an education, not providing psychiatric counseling and a safe environment for recovery.
Have you looked at a catalog for Yale or any similar private school? They're not primarily selling education.
Besides, the "education" is no different from what you'd get at a much less expensive, much less well-known school. You're paying for the "community" and the experience and the brand.
> You're paying for the "community" and the experience and the brand.
Totally agreed.
But my point still stands; slightly refined:
providing a snobbish "education" != providing a safe place for people with psychiatric disorders.
I would not have used the term "snobbish", but, well, you went out of your way to mention your Ivy League degree, when it didn't fundamentally address my point that anyone paying for any college, regardless of cost/status, should be expecting to get psychiatric services along the way.
Congrats, you're special, thanks for letting us know. :-)
What constitutes community in your agreement? For many part of community giving support to those who are going through a rough time.
> paying for any college, regardless of cost/status, should be expecting to get psychiatric services along the way.
Universities often require health insurance if enrolled. Often it is required you buy it through the University. Universities roll many services into one package. It is not uncommon for University programs to target bettering both physical and mental health.
Psychiatric services are just one more Health benefit. Is there a reason to exclude it as part of the package? If it normally is excluded, what reasoning lead to this decision?
> Congrats, you're special, thanks for letting us know. :-)
> Psychiatric services are just one more Health benefit.
Right. AFAIK Yale has those, and is where the gal went. And they made the decision "this is too serious for us" and sent her to Yale-New Haven, which has a real psych ward.
I am sure Yale has counseling/Health Services for non-clinical depression/etc., but I don't think people appreciate the environment you need for patients with active, dangerous psychiatric illnesses (harmful thoughts/etc.) who are actively going through med changes, that may actually worsen their condition before the right balance is found.
No way Yale, or any college, is going to have those facilities. They sent her to specialists, which was the right thing to do.
Keeping her at Yale under the care of people who are not trained/equipped to help her, would have been worse.
E.g. Yale probably has nurses/doctors to apply bandages, prescribe basic meds, etc., but would you get cancer treatment there? They can't provide everything.
> What are you trying to communicate with here?
I was admittedly being sarcastic and trying to point out the guy was, IMO, bragging about his Yale degree, and talking about the "brand" he paid for, when it really didn't change my point that you don't pay any college, Ivy League or otherwise, expecting that they'll also help you through your serious psychiatric illness while you're there.
Yale requires the purchase of specialty care coverage as a condition of enrollment. This includes 60 days of in-patient psychiatric care annually. Students are paying with expectation that the college will help them out, since that's exactly what it says on the tin.
Most schools provide psychiatric counseling (and primary care, and immunizations, etc) as part of the medical services paid for by the student life fee.
Mental illness is a disability and is protected by the ADA, so if she had been an employee and not a student she would have had stronger legal protections.
I'm not sure how it works in your reversed example of an employee supporting an employer. The decent thing to do is to support the reasonable adjustments, and to not be a dick when they return to work.
And, while they might require some time off, and maybe hospitalisation, they probably shouldn't lose their job amd have to reapply for it.
