Moving Forward by Taking Medical Leave: A Paradoxical Path to Success

Abstract

Transitioning to college presents many challenges to students who are physically and emotionally healthy; students with mental illness have additional potential risks impacting success. Understanding the university mental health system and the university campus resources is critical. Students may need one or more medical leave(s) to mitigate the impact of illness with eventual success in part dependent upon effective consultation and collaboration. Medical leaves should be requested when the student has mental health concerns contributing to inability to function safely or effectively as a student. The mental health condition may negatively impact student welfare and academic engagement even if grades are acceptable. This case describes a student with significant mental illness requiring two medical leaves of absence from college, demonstrating the development of a safety net including residential housing, disability services, academic support, and the university Students of Concern team while maintaining a role for the home psychiatrist. The chapter identifies challenges of transitional age youth living independent of family and discusses the implications of Title II regulations. The case demonstrates successful use of medical leave in a young adult with mental illness who was able to make incremental developmental changes leading to completion of his education.