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Information for specific groups |
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Learners with mental health problems |
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Learners with mental health difficulties What facilities should you look for? Disclosing your mental illness Applying for higher education Everyone who wants to enter higher education has to decide where they want to study. There are several important factors to consider: · Which HEIs offer the course or subject you are interested in? · Do you want to stay at home or move away? · What is the HEI’s reputation? · Do you think you would be happy there? · What facilities does the HEI have? People with a history of mental health problems need to consider some additional factors. What facilities should you look for? All universities and colleges have student support services which usually offer counselling, student advice and welfare support, and the Student Union will help you approach these if you’re not sure who can help you. Some have specialist staff who can provide ongoing support to people who have suffered with mental health problems, and who can work with you to determine your needs if you should start studying there. All HEIs will have a disability adviser who will liaise with your department to make sure you get any required adjustments, such as: · a lap top computer so you can work from home if you are too ill to attend University · time out of the course without penalty if you are not coping · personal support if difficulties arise · a period of counselling with the counselling service · benefits advice · extra time to do assignments, and help in other areas. · exams in a separate room · seating near a door or a window in exams · exams with extra time allowances if you need to take medication You may need to visit the college or university to be able to make an informed decision. Open days are a good opportunity to ask questions. You might want to contact the disability support department to find out what level of support they could offer you. They should also be able to tell you about other support services such as student counselling. Some HEIs have mentor schemes where you could be paired up with an established student who understands mental illness or your particular disability. Many people with mental illness have reported this to be very beneficial, helping to prevent relapses and keeping them in their studies. Disclosing your mental illness When you apply through UCAS you can declare your disability or mental health history, or you can choose not to. There are some courses where a history of mental illness may affect your application. These courses include training to become a nurse, and training to become a teacher, for reasons of fitness to practice. For other courses it is usually advantageous to declare that you have a disability. The positives to disclosing your mental illness are: · you may be entitled to extra help in living at University and your studies, even if you do not need it to start with, · you may be eligible to live in university accommodation throughout your course, unlike most other students who have to move out after the first year, · you may be entitled to additional benefits, · you will be able to work with the HEI you choose to get arrangements in place before you start your course. According to UCAS, 622 applicants declared a mental health problem in 2001, and 444 (71%) of them were accepted; after enrolling at their HEIs, a further 1,161 declared their difficulties. (Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency) Mental Health Foundation: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ MIND: http://www.mind.org.uk/ MIND has produced a booklet “How to cope with the stress of student life” Depression
Students in Mind is a new national charity specifically for
the 1 in 4 students who will experience some form of mental distress
http://www.studentsinmind.org.uk
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