Involving Parents in the Management of Psychiatric Emergencies in College Students Far from Home

Abstract

The treatment of severely disturbed college students who are psychotic or potentially suicidal or homicidal poses for the college mental health professional (CMHP) difficult clinical decisions regarding the students' parents. Relevant issues include timing of contacts with parents and techniques for engaging them in decisions concerning the treatment. These issues are particularly pertinent when the student lives far from home and there is a need for hospitalization.

The therapist's avoidance of contact with the family, characteristic of psychotherapy with college students, is often detrimental to the treatment of students with serious psychiatric problems. When hospitalization is indicated, a working alliance with parents is enhanced when they are informed early and are encouraged to participate in the decisions regarding treatment, especially the selection of the treating psychiatrist and location of treatment. When the CMHP acts in loco parentis, the parents are more likely to fight for control over administrative decisions and to give less attention to the student's condition and need for care. Supporting parents in their role allows for the development of a more thoughtful and realistic plan for the student's treatment.