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New Form Allows NIU Students To Name Mental Health Emergency Contact

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University students will soon receive an e-mail to name a mental health emergency contact person. That’s because the school will soon be required by law to provide that paperwork.

The Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Act says colleges and universities have to provide incoming students a form that would allow the school to disclose mental health information about the student to a designated person. That’s if the school thinks the student is a threat to others or him-or-herself. 

“Students will be able to supply additional emergency contact information, just like they provide other emergency contact information and their missing persons’ notification in the appropriate section of the MyNIU registration system,” Mike Stang, assistant vice president of student affairs at NIU, said. 

Stang says students will receive an e-mail making them aware of the form. He says if a student chooses not to provide that information, he or she can just ignore the e-mail and not fill out the designated fields on the form.

Governor Bruce Rauner signed the legislation in August. The law goes into effect Jan. 1.