[jonnyss]

here's an idea.  
maybe incoming freshmen could name a trusted person who could be informed, instead of a parent.
a friend, perhaps?

So I enroll and decide to have my roommate or maybe a friend from high school be this contact.  They get an email outlining some problem/issue I have, what are they supposed to actually do?  I’d guess most would call the parents unless they thought they were part of the problem, if the feel they cannot call the parents then what do they do?  I doubt 18 or 19 year old me would have had a good answer….

That's exactly my sentiments.  If it is a campus classmate, what do they do?  If it's a non-parental relative living far from campus, what do they do?  From a practical standpoint, I would guess 90% plus of the notifications would be for a student with a problem who has no thoughts of suicide.

If this system of notification has a workable procedure that can lead to a solution for troubled students, I'm all for it.  I just don't see this being all that helpful.  To me the university should notify services that provide counseling and professional help.

both facets are important: the burden on the individual and the response of others.

as a psychiatrist, i have seen patients with suicidal thoughts. a big part of the assessment is, "who can watch you til you're feeling better - family, friends, spouse? if no one, you should be in the hospital." or, more informally, "you need extra support in this period; ok if we call your parents?"

psych wards are usually annoying at best. it's generally better if family (immediate or family of origin) takes responsibility. sometimes friends or roommates are willing and capable. they are usually more concerned and collegial than a hospital. then there is follow-up. family and friends are almost always way more persistent than an emt or an e.r. 

there is an increasing tendency to say, "go to your nearest emergency room." i find that inadequate, even irresponsible - a passing the buck.

yes notify, but then someone needs to ensure there is follow-up. in the great majority of cases (i'd guess 95% with stanford students), parents are quite willing to ensure follow-up. imo if the residence staff does not have time or energy for follow-up (as apparently was the case w eitan weiner), they really should consider urging the student to give permission to contact the parents.

imo you don't need a paper on file with permission to contact the parents. you need a strong readiness to ask the student for a waiver ad hoc allowing permission to contact the parents, an easily accessible form online, and formal guidelines from the university that staff can ask for such a waiver in exigent circumstances.

[jonnyss]

here's an idea.  
maybe incoming freshmen could name a trusted person who could be informed, instead of a parent.
a friend, perhaps?

So I enroll and decide to have my roommate or maybe a friend from high school be this contact.  They get an email outlining some problem/issue I have, what are they supposed to actually do?  I’d guess most would call the parents unless they thought they were part of the problem, if the feel they cannot call the parents then what do they do?  I doubt 18 or 19 year old me would have had a good answer….

That's exactly my sentiments.  If it is a campus classmate, what do they do?  If it's a non-parental relative living far from campus, what do they do?  From a practical standpoint, I would guess 90% plus of the notifications would be for a student with a problem who has no thoughts of suicide.

If this system of notification has a workable procedure that can lead to a solution for troubled students, I'm all for it.  I just don't see this being all that helpful.  To me the university should notify services that provide counseling and professional help.

both facets are important: the burden on the individual and the response of others.

as a psychiatrist, i have seen patients with suicidal thoughts. a big part of the assessment is, "who can watch you til you're feeling better - family, friends, spouse? if no one, you should be in the hospital." or, more informally, "you need extra support in this period; ok if we call your parents?"

psych wards are usually annoying at best. it's generally better if family (immediate or family of origin) takes responsibility. sometimes friends or roommates are willing and capable. they are usually more concerned and collegial than a hospital. then there is follow-up. family and friends are almost always way more persistent than an emt or an e.r. 

there is an increasing tendency to say, "go to your nearest emergency room." i find that inadequate, even irresponsible - a passing the buck.

yes notify, but then someone needs to ensure there is follow-up. in the great majority of cases (i'd guess 95% with stanford students), parents are quite willing to ensure follow-up. imo if the residence staff does not have time or energy for follow-up (as apparently was the case w eitan weiner), they really should consider urging the student to give permission to contact the parents.

imo you don't need a paper on file with permission to contact the parents. you need a strong readiness to ask the student for a waiver ad hoc allowing permission to contact the parents, an easily accessible form online, and formal guidelines from the university that staff can ask for such a waiver in exigent circumstances.