Policies & Procedures

Miscellaneous

Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Act Policy and Procedures - 3G5

[effective January 1, 2016]

Pursuant to the Illinois Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Act, 110 ILCS 74/, the University is required to offer all students the option of designating an adult whom they would want contacted in case of an imminent safety risk to themselves or others. A student may state whether or not they would like to designate someone as an emergency contact who would be notified if an SIUE clinical psychologist, physician, licensed counselor, or other qualified examiner determines that the student poses a clear, imminent danger to self or other(s).

Students may designate such an emergency contact through the following procedure:

1. All newly-enrolled SIUE students will be notified via e-mail from the Office of the Registrar of the option and process for designating an emergency contact.
2. Students who wish to designate an emergency contact will have the option to do so either online (via CougarNet) or by printing out, signing, and delivering the emergency contact form (available through the Office of Counseling Services) to the campus office indicated.
3. Students who wish to revoke or otherwise modify their designated emergency contact may do so by following the same process stated in Section II above.
4. Students will be informed on the emergency contact form that not completing the form will indicate that the student has chosen not to identify an emergency contact for the purposes of the Act.
5. If, in the course of meeting with an SIUE student, an SIUE clinical psychologist, physician, licensed counselor, or other qualified examiner determines that the student poses a clear, imminent danger to self or others:
   
   
   1. That SIUE provider will take needed steps to assess the situation and arrange for appropriate treatment and referrals as warranted; and
   2. That SIUE provider will, no more than 24 hours after making the determination of an imminent danger, identify and attempt to contact the designated emergency contact person and notify that person of the determination that the student poses a clear, imminent danger to self or others.
6. Nothing in this policy shall preclude an SIUE clinical psychologist, physician, licensed counselor, or other qualified examiner from taking all necessary and warranted steps to help ensure the safety of a student and/or others who may be immediately threatened. This may include notifying others (including those who may not have been designated as emergency contacts) of the imminent safety risk, as allowed by law.

Approved by Chancellor effective 12/17/15
This policy was issued on December 18, 2015.
This policy was edited on June 30, 2016, replacing the December 18, 2015 version.
Document Reference: 3G5
Origin: OC 12/17/15