Elis for Rachael Survey 2.0

What is your affiliation with Yale?* This field is required.

Student: I am currently enrolled at Yale (...or on a leave of absence / withdrawn from Yale)

Alumnus: I graduated from Yale.

Previous student: I completed some time at Yale, but I am currently not enrolled and have no plans to return.

I am a family member or friend of a current student or alumnus.

Other

EmailOptional

example@example.com

What is/are your schools and graduation years?(i.e. Yale College 2018, Yale Law School 2023)

i.e. Yale College 2018, Yale School of Medicine 2023

In order to better understand how students with different identities and backgrounds experience Yale and Yale's mental health policies, please select any of the below which you identify with, if you are comfortable sharing.

First-generation/low-income student

Sexuality: Straight

Sexuality: Homosexual

Sexuality: Bisexual

Sexuality: Pansexual

Sexuality: Asexual

Sexuality: Queer

Sexuality: Other

Gender identity: Cisgender

Gender identity: Transgender

Gender identity: nonbinary (gender queer, gender fluid, agender, gender neutral, etc)

Gender identity: Other

Identify as part of a religious minority on campus

On full or partial financial aid

Working student

Identify as having a physical disability

Identify as having a learning disability

Identify as having a non-physical or "invisible" disability

Native American/Indigenous

Black

Latine

MENA

Multiracial

International student

Other

Please select all of the resources you have used to support your mental health at YaleCheck all that apply

YC3

Yale Mental Health & Counseling

On-Call Psychiatrist

Walden Peer Counseling

Froco

Dean

Friends

Significant other / partner

Professor

Spiritual leader

Other

Have you used YC3 or Yale mental Health & Counseling (YMHC)?

YESNO

Why have you not used Yc3?Select all that apply

I haven't had the need

Not familiar with Yc3 or how it works

Deterred by overall reputation

Wait time concerns

Privacy concerns

Quality concerns

Referred by YC3 directly to Yale Mental Health & Counseling

I use mental health resources outside of Yale's resources

Other

Why have you not used Yale mental Health & Counseling (YMHC)?Select all that apply

I haven't had the need

Not familiar with YMHC or how it works

Deterred by overall reputation

Wait time concerns

Privacy concerns

Quality concerns

Referred by YMHC directly to outside mental health provider

I use mental health resources outside of Yale's resources

Other

What is your overall impression of YC3 and Yale Mental Health & Counseling? This can be from your own experience or from experiences of people you know.

What years have you used YC3 and/or Yale Mental Health & Counseling resources?

2022-2023 academic year

2021-2022 academic year

2020-2021 academic year

2019-2020 academic year

If you applied for a therapist through Yale Mental Health & Counseling (YMHC), please specify 1. What term you established (or attempted to establish) care with YMHC (i.e. Fall 2022) 2. Time from your outreach to intake appointment, 3. Time from intake to ongoing therapy 4. Frequency of ongoing appointments

In the past year, amidst national media attention and legal action, Yale has changed some of its mental health / medical leave policies. Please select all of the changes that you were aware of, regardless of whether or not you've observed them on campus.

Medical Withdrawal is now referred to as a Medical Leave of Absence

Students on medical leave, when reinstated, will now be granted extra terms of enrollment, if necessary to complete the required thirty-six credits for graduation.

Students on medical leave of absence are no longer obligated to go through a reinstatement interview or provide non-clinical letters of recommendation

Students on medical leave are no longer required to be enrolled in college courses during their time away (unless concurrently on academic withdrawal, or away for 4 or more terms).

Students on medical leave will no longer be required to pass every course during the first two terms back (unless concurrently on academic withdrawal).

Students on medical leave who carry Yale Hospitalization and Speciality Care coverage will have the option to convert to Yale Affiliate health insurance during their time away.

Students on medical leave may now access campus as a visitor or guest rather than having to petition each time for permission to enter campus.

Students on medical leave may now participate in student organizations, as long as they do not hold a leadership position or participate in international travel.

Have you noticed any changes (those mentioned or otherwise) to Yale's mental health resources or culture before and after the start of Spring term 2023? Please explain.

Yale College students: Have you ever spoken to your residential college dean about mental health?

YESNO

How was your experience speaking with your dean about mental health? Sharing your college affiliation or dean's name is completely optional.

Why have you not spoken to your residential college dean about mental health?

I spoke with someone else.

I haven't felt the need to speak with my dean about mental health.

I have heard that deans at Yale, or my dean in particular, are not helpful resources for mental health.

Other

Have you ever sought out accommodations at Yale for mental health reasons through Student Accessibility Services (disability services office)?

YESNO

If not, why have you not sought out accommodations through Student Accessibility Services?

I haven't felt the need.

I wasn't aware they were available.

I have wanted to, but wasn't sure how.

I have wanted to, but the process was too difficult.

Other

How was your experience asking for and receiving accommodation(s) from Student Accessibility Services?

1 – very poor

2 – somewhat poor

3 – neutral

4 – somewhat good

5 – great

Please tell us about your experience asking for and receiving accommodations from Student Accessibility Services

Have you ever taken a Medical Leave of Absence for mental health reasons? (Until January 2023, this was also known as a Medical Withdrawal.)

No, and I have never considered the option.

Yes, voluntarily and I wanted the time off.

Yes, voluntarily but I felt I had no other option.

Yes, involuntarily.

No, I've wanted to take a medical leave but have been deterred.

No, but I've taken another type of leave/withdrawal.

Other

If applicable, please explain why you felt deterred from taking a medical leave of absence:

Was your Medical Leave of Absence initiated before or after January 2023?

Before January 2023

After January 2023

Were you able to stay on some form of Yale Health insurance during your medical leave?

No, but I didn't want to.

Yes, I had Yale based health insurance during my leave.

No, I didn't know that I had that option.

No, I wanted to but I was unsuccessful.

Other

What happened to the grades of your courses that were in progress when you initiated your Medical Leave of Absence?

When did you leave and return from your Medical Leave of Absence?

Are you currently reinstated from your Medical Leave of Absence?

YESNO

Did you come back...

Before you felt ready to?

Later than you wanted to?

Exactly when you wanted to?

Other

How many times have did you apply for reinstatement (if you are already reinstated)? Or, how many times have you applied for reinstatement (if not reinstated)?

How was your experience coming to the decision to take the Medical Leave of Absence?

Did you have any contact with Yale during your time away? Please explain. Examples of helpful information: What was the nature of the contact? Who initiated? Was it helpful?

How comfortable did you feel with your understanding of the withdrawal / leave and subsequent reinstatement process?

1 – very difficult

2 – somewhat difficult

3 – neutral / average difficulty

4 – somewhat easy

5 – very easy

How was your experience with the reinstatement process and reintegration into campus life? Are there any resources you would have found helpful?

If not a Medical Leave of Absence, what type of time off did you take?

Academic Withdrawal

Financial Withdrawal

Disciplinary Withdrawal

Personal Withdrawal

Leave of Absence (i.e. non medical, initiated early in term)

Do you feel like the type of time off that you took was appropriate for your circumstances?

YESNO

Please explain.

What year did you graduate?

What was your expected / original year of graduation?

Did you use mental health resources during your time at Yale?

YESNO

What resources did you use, and how was your experience?

Why did you not use Yale's mental health resources during your time there?

I didn't feel the need.

I wanted to, but I was deterred by its reputation.

I used external resources.

Other

During your time at Yale, did you ever initiate a withdrawal and either decide not to apply for reinstatement or get rejected your first attempt at reinstatement and decide not to try again?

YESNO

Please explain

Is there anything notable that you would like to share with us about your loved one's experience with mental health resources on campus?

Prior to taking this survey, had you heard about either of the following? (Select all that apply)

The November 2022 class action lawsuit against Yale

Yale's January 2023 changes to mental health policies

I hadn't heard about either.

How did you hear about the lawsuit?

Friends/family from Yale

Yale Daily News

Other News Outlets

Friends/family from outside Yale

Social media

Yale official announcements / Yale mailing lists

Other

How did you hear about the changes in Yale's policies?

Friends/family from Yale

Yale Daily News

Other News Outlets

Friends/family from outside Yale

Social media

Yale official announcements / Yale mailing lists

Other

What has your impression been of the impact of these things on campus?

What is your impression of these changes and/or of the lawsuit?

What advice do you/would you give to a friend struggling with mental health at Yale?i.e. General advice? What resources would you recommend to them?

Some other colleges have a dedicated office or coordinators to assist students who are taking time away to navigate the various required processes, ensure a safe plan, and stay in contact with the university. Do you think that an office would benefit students at Yale?Here is an example of such an office at Duke University: https://undergrad.duke.edu/student-success/time-away-office/

YESNO

Any thoughts on why such an office / role would or would not be helpful?

Please rank your perceived importance of the following changes:

What other changes would you like to see to Yale's mental health policies/the general culture surrounding mental health on campus?

Do we have permission to use information from your survey responses?

Yes, but only for internal purposes such as informing the work of Elis for Rachael.

You may use the information I've provided for public facing communications and include only my class year.

You may use any of the information I've provided for public facing communications but only anonymously.

You may use the information I've provided for public facing communications and include my name.

Other

If you would like to get more involved, please select any of the followings ways you would be interested in. We will reach out to you if your response requires follow-up.Filling out this survey is already a huge help! You can skip this question if that is the level of involvement you are happy with.

(Students) Learn more about being a Peer Liaison for mental health for the 2023-2024 academic year

(Students) Participation in small group discussions about mental health services and policies at Yale

(Students) Participate in small group discussions about the intersection of Title IX and mental health at Yale

(Alum or students) Provide a testimony of your experiences with mental health at Yale for current students who may be struggling and feel alone

(Alum) Donate to Elis for Rachael fund for students with financial needs due to mental health

Send this survey to friends to fill out

Other

First Name

Last Name

Email(if not given previously)

example@example.com

Is there anything else that you feel would be helpful for us to know that was not covered in this survey?