I have a 18 year old DS at university 5.5 hours away. His mental health wasn't great even before Covid, got worse during the first lockdown and with the benefit of hindsight he should never have gone to Uni - but he thought a change of scene/something to do/student life etc would help.
Since he's been there he's been in a small bubble of people he doesn't know, he's had Covid (mildly, but I think it was still all pretty big and scary for him), he's completely homesick and miserable. He hasn't had any in person teaching and lectures are pre-recorded.
What I didn't know until last night was that he feels really, properly depressed rather than "just a bit low". He's been masking it when we've spoken to him - but it's an awful lot worse than I realised. I am very worried about him. He's spoken to the GP there, asked for ADs but instead has a online counselling session booked.
He wants to come home, I want my boy back. Obviously it's not ideal that he waited till the night before lockdown to tell me he's in a very bad way.
Can he come home? Could it fall into the "moving house" category or is that me just clutching at straws? As it stands, I'm not sure that if he comes home he will return to Uni - at least not until January. Is there any sort of Welfare clause that would make it OK? He could take a train to a halfway point and then DH could collect him, so DH doesn't have to drive 11 hours in a day or stay overnight somewhere which isn't even allowed in any case. It's just DH and I at home.
I promise I'm not normally one for looking for loopholes - I'm normally a stickler for compliance. Part of me can't even believe I'm contemplating this but the thought of DS depressed and alone makes me weep. Can we rescue him?