An interim report from the MIT Mental Health Task Force—created in the wake of six suicides at the university since 1996—found fault with a number of the practices of the MIT mental health clinic. The task force recommended broad changes in its Aug. 28 report, many of which will be instituted this fall, including large increases in staff size and longer hours for the clinic.

According to the report, visits to the MIT clinic increased by 60 percent between 1995 and 2000, although staff size at the clinic remained constant. The report notes that MIT is also the only college studied that does not offer evening appointments at the clinic.

MIT chancellor Phillip L. Clay says the work of the task force will create “a broad and intense dialogue within MIT on ways to better support the individual growth and well-being of our students.”

“The draft includes a number of thoughtful recommendations. They are sensible, and we are implementing some of them without delay,” Clay said in a press release.

Beginning on Sept. 17, mental health staffing will be expanded to include the hours between 5 and 7 p.m., with additional on-call support between 7 p.m. and midnight and a phone hotline between midnight and 8 a.m.

“We’re adding these evening appointments in response to requests from students, staff and the Mental Health Task Force for evening services that don’t conflict with class, lab or work schedules. We know that most people in the MIT community have extraordinarily busy schedules, and we are going to make it easier for students and staff to get the care they need, when they need it,” Medical Director Dr. William Kettyle said in a press release.

Besides the expanded evening clinic hours, the institute is also expanding the psychotherapy coverage offered in their health plan.

The new coverage offers unlimited visits with no co-payment, one of the most comprehensive plans in the country.