Managing Safety on Campus Burradoo 2008 Heather McLeod – ANU Donna Christie – CIT

Overview Disruptive Behaviour Guidelines 2006 Medical Leave Rules at ANU 2007 Learnings from Virginia Tech situation ANU response – stakeholders and planning Development of MOU with Mental Health ACT What’s in it? Does it work?

Disruptive Behaviour Guidelines Problem Identification – one off incident? Case management approach Dean of Students as coordinator of case management Stakeholders involved Shared responsibility for next steps

Medical Leave Rules ANU 2007 Any person who considers that a student may be suffering from a serious health condition may report the person’s behaviour to the Registrar Registrar may request medical examination Registrar may make a decision to grant medical leave of absence, terminate the students candidature on medical grounds

Virginia Tech Issues Long history of mental illness (including childhood problems) Suicidal and homicidal ideations in his writings A number of incidents over a period of time – no one person knew all the information Cook Counselling Centre and University Care Team failed to provide needed support Lack of follow up by the centres and by the hospital

Virginia Tech Outcomes Universities must have a system that links troubled students to appropriate medical and counselling services either on or off campus Must balance an individual’s rights with the rights of all others for safety Liaison with off campus mental health facilities and university counselling/health centres is critical to ensure appropriate follow up

Initial Conversations Stakeholders – >Security >University Counsel >Counselling >Rep from Halls and Colleges >Health >Registrar /Deputy Registrar >Dean of Students >ISS >DSC

What was the goal? Political understanding of what we needed Better communication and better links with our local Mental Health provider An approach that allowed our concerns to be heard and acted upon when they were urgent or worrying A shared sense of responsibility of the problems

Next steps Small working group to look at best strategy Letter drafted by the group for the VC to sign to go to Minister of Health re MOU request Minister of Health responds positively to request – involves the Chief Psychiatrist Key Liaison person from ANU to negotiate with Health (Penny Oakes)

What’s in the MOU? Key Liaison – Dean of Students for coordination of complex issues Crisis Support and Case Management system– for serious concerns contact MHACT CATT Team Leader directly for assistance with a plan Debriefing for ANU staff by MHACT staff following an emergency

cont Discharge Plan information sharing where students are discharged from hospital back to an on campus residence Medication changes – MHACT to notify Training provided to appropriate staff on mental health issues by MHACT Conflict Resolution

How has it worked? Liaison with Team Leader MHACT has been extremely useful for support, action and advice Case management approach within ANU with Key Liaison has meant that a sharing of information about issues regarding safety can be held by one person Review of MOU every 5 years Training in Early diagnosis of psychosis

Flow on to other tertiary institutions MOU with CIT and UC