Chinese student’s expulsion from New Zealand university over mental health issues sparks outrage

A university in New Zealand has been slammed for being “callous” and treating international students like “cash cows” after it dismissed a Chinese student who was struggling with her mental health and tried to take her own life.

During a stay last October at a mental health unit at Auckland Hospital, the fourth-year University of Auckland student was allegedly raped by another patient, and she attempted to end her life a month later, the New Zealand Herald reported on Wednesday.

After the incident, the university took swift action to terminate the enrolment of the 21-year-old woman, citing a breach of conditions for not informing the university about the change in her mental health conditions.

“It is clear that there has been a change to the state of your mental health … and you did not promptly inform the International Office as you were required to do under your Enrolment Conditions,” wrote Adrienne Cleland, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor, in a letter. “The University has cancelled your Student Agreement for your breach of enrolment conditions, thereby terminating your enrolment.”

Two days after receiving the letter, the woman had a deportation order from Immigration New Zealand as she no longer met the requirements to hold a student visa.

The case sparked a wave of condemnation against the university after it came to light.

Shaun Robinson, head of the Mental Health Foundation, denounced the university’s decision as “cold, callous and extremely uncaring”, Newshub reported.

Golriz Ghahraman, an MP from the Green Party, said the university had failed to meet its care obligations.

“Student mental health, especially when a risk of suicide exists, must be a top priority for any learning institution, no matter the student’s immigration status,” Ghahraman said on Twitter. “Throwing a vulnerable person out because you can is the opposite of meeting that duty of care.”

The student, who could not be named for legal reasons, told local media her family had spent more than NZ$100,000 (US$66,200) in course fees, and she had another semester of study left. She said she did not qualify for certain mental health support schemes as she was not a domestic student.

Hundreds of people on social media criticised the move by the University of Auckland as “shameful”, “disgusting” and “lacking in compassion and decency”.

“Expulsion seems pretty extreme,” one user commented on Facebook. “Could’ve given her some time to get better and once she felt fit, return to her studies. From my understanding, this girl’s family have spent upwards of $100k sending their daughter to your school”.

Another user said: “Suicidal people rarely even tell their family how they are feeling before it's too late but the university expects you to let them know? What a joke.”

University of Auckland spokesman Todd Somerville said the student had received “an exceptional level of care and support” from the institution.

“The decision to terminate the enrolment was based on expert advice of her own medical team, who felt that it was not in her best interests to remain as a student at the university,” Somerville said.

In a statement, another university spokesperson said the decision to terminate the student’s enrolment was not taken lightly.

“It was based on explicit advice from her own medical team who advised that the student was at high risk if she continued to study in New Zealand. Our assessment, following meetings and conversations with them and the student’s family, was that exceptional circumstances meant we could not continue to meet our obligations to her (under the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016),” the spokeswoman said.

“However, we are absolutely confident that this student has been extensively supported and treated with care and compassion for the four years of her enrolment here. We are committed to pastoral care, for both international and domestic students, and provide a wide range of support, as well as counselling and professional care when it is required. There has been no exception in this case.”

When asked about the backlash, the spokeswoman said: “The University will not and must not breach student confidentiality regardless of any waiver or conversations initiated by anyone else. We therefore cannot enter into a conversation with members of the media or social media community or respond to speculation. Our correspondence with her was in confidence.

“The letter advising the student of the termination of her enrolment was necessarily formal as part of a complex legal process, was delivered in the context of her mental health care, and formed a small part of a significant body of correspondence from the University that demonstrates the compassion that has been shown to the student during her time with us.”

The Chinese student, who has to leave the country by January 22, is being supported by the university’s student union to challenge her deportation.

If you, or someone you know, are having suicidal thoughts, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans, or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.