Harvard Sued Over Policy on Students in Mental Health Crisis (1)

Harvard University discriminates against students with mental health disabilities by banning students in crisis from campus and subjecting them to an arduous process to return from leave, a lawsuit alleges.

Students 4 Mental Health Justice, an advocacy group for neurodivergent students, claims Harvard violates state and federal antidiscrimination laws by responding to “disability-related behavior with exclusion, blame, and draconian measures,” according to a complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

When students are admitted to a hospital or emergency room for a mental health crisis, they are barred from campus, “depriving them of their community and supports during a particularly vulnerable time,” the complaint alleges.

These students, who can’t access their housing to collect their belongings, “become relegated to a status that is even more restricted than members of the general public—about whom Harvard knows nothing—who are generally free to enter Harvard’s campus,” the complaint said.

Following such treatment, “Harvard then forces these students to undergo burdensome requirements to return, many of which are unrelated to their mental health recovery, in contrast with minimal requirements imposed on students who leave campus or take leaves of absence for non-mental health reasons,” the complaint said.

Students are required to allow Harvard to communicate with their health care providers, giving “Harvard the right to surveil students’ private medial decisions,” the suit alleges.

“Harvard works to support all students so that they can successfully complete their degrees. The University will not comment on pending litigation,” Harvard said in a statement.

Disability Rights Advocates represents the students.

The case is Students 4 Mental Health Just. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., D. Mass., No. 1:25-cv-11452, 5/22/25.