Study Support for Students with Mental Health Issues

Study Support for Students with Mental Health Issues

Karisa Krcmar Tina Horsman

ADSHE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2013: Putting Principles into Practice - 1:1 Tuition and Support

Aims for today

Understand key elements of major, DSA recognised, mental health conditions.

Explore strategies suitable for students with mental health issues through case studies.

Packs

PowerPoint slides Mental Health Recovery Star (Mental Health Providers Forum)

Mental Health Recover Ladder of Change (Mental Health Providers Forum)

Study Star (adapted from Mental Health Providers Forum)

Example of crisis response pathway Some helpful websites Post-it Notes for questions

What is good mental health? make the most of the opportunities

play a full part amongst our family

workplace, community and friends

linked with our physical health

key to living a fulfilling life

Physical and mental health …

Underpins learning (motivation, interest, concentration, enthusiasm)

Can help/hinder how someone goes about their learning (anxiety, depression, stress)

Daily emotions help someone decide whether they are having a good overall ‘student experience’

Social exclusion – the big issues

Disrupts life Pushed out of society Ceases to participate Social exclusion Lose hope for the future Lose sight of potential Discrimination and stigma

Risky business

Mental Health

Is the most common type of disability amongst young people aged 18-30 years.

(e.g. Loughborough University) 500-600 students.

Comes under Equality Act 2010.

Terminology

Neurosis: mental disorder with an organic basis

Psychosis: more severe internal basis

We have access to:

Mental health support team - anybody else have this?

Information will be in Needs Assessment - student will have copy and you can ask them - but it’s not always available.

http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp/

Mental Health concerns considered today

OCD Eating disorder Anxiety & stress Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Depression Bi-polar disorder Schizophrenia

Recovery Star & Ladder of Change

Models from Mental Health Providers Forum (cc)

Study Ladder of Change

Stuck Accepting Help

Believing

Learning

Self-Reliance

Case Studies

Adam - OCD, anxiety, stress, eating disorder

Faith - Asylum Seeker, PTSD, Depression

Sophie - Bi-polar disorder

Imran - Schizophrenic

Adam OCD, anxiety, stress, eating disorder

Undergraduate in geography. 1st year at different university, came into 2nd year at

new university. No EP available. No Needs Assessment available.

AdamOCD

On edge; pessimistic; negative

Fear of failure (constant; unable to make decisions;

difficulty concentrating; avoids difficult situations;

denies or overthinks a problem

Anxiety Stress

Disordered Eating

Feeling high; poor concentration; feeling tired and weak; focussed on

food (essays)

How does Adam present?

Attitudenervousanxioustakes time to settle

Behaviourritualspassiveeverything is a problem

Learninghas to follow routinememoryconcentration

Knowledgeknows small amount about lots of subjectscannot always make links between cause and effect

Links to study support: - concentration – reading, writing, revision, exams

Strategies

Reading to locate information Selecting if relevant

Writing

Success

FaithPost traumatic stress disorder & depression

Undergraduate in Social Psychology. 1st year at different university. Doctor’s letter (confidential, no access unless

student wishes to share). Needs Assessment recommends study support for

research, anxiety, work management, organisation.

FaithAn asylum seeker from Somalia

PTSD

Feeling detached; disturbed sleep; easily startled; avoids situations that

reminds them of trauma; intrusive thoughts/images; OCD-type behaviour; feelings of guilt

Depression

Memory; procrastination; self-blame/guilt; negative; bleak future;

tired; difficulty sleeping; moves slowly

How does Faith present?

Attitudetimid,disinterested,changeable,anxious

Behaviourdisorganised,bad timekeeping,passive,inconsistent

Learningstyles vary,memory,Ideas,Inconsistent,concentration

Knowledgevocabulary (2nd language),conceptual,contextual (educational background)

Links to study support: - procrastination, time management, self esteem, confidence, concentration, stress & anxiety

Study Support Activities

Sorted - the daily organiser http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOuHRn_D_CM

SophieBi-polar

Undergraduate in Textiles: Innovation and Design 2nd year Came with assessment Needs assessment shows 1:1 for memory issues

and organisation

SophieBi-polar

Talks fastRacing thoughts

Lack of concentrationPoor judgement

ImpulsiveSelf-centred

Extreme irritability

Chronic fatigueSense of worthlessness

GuiltLack of concentration

Poor memoryLoss of interest

Highs Lows

How does she present?

Knowledge:goodsome contextual things missing

Behaviourdisorganisedjumps inbad timekeeping

Learning: poor memoryrushes throughsurface learner

Attitudekeen for helpchangeableanxious

Links to study support: - concentration, impulsivity, memory, self-esteem, motivation

Organisation

http://www.6wunderkinder.com/wunderlistSimple to do list, can create several lists, can add sub-lists and extra notes

https://evernote.com/ Saves your ideas, video, audio

I can finish a task

ImranSchizophrenia

Undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. 2nd year. Doctor’s letter (confidential, no access unless

student is willing to share). No Needs Assessment available. 1st year was OK - didn’t come for support, now

referred from Mental Health Support Team.

Imran

Schizophrenia

DelusionsConcentration

ExpressionLack of interest

AvoidanceThought disorder

Over reliance on tutor

How does Imran present?

Attitude:interested, outgoing, pleasant

Behaviour: reasonably organised, anxious, slow reading/working,can sometimes lose motivation

Learning: poor memory,difficulty concentrating

Knowledge:good,some contextual things missing

Links to study support: - organisation, stress management, memory

Illness

Recovery

StressAnxiety

Relapse

This way with study support

Tiredness & lack of motivation Depression Panic Excessive anxiety Introverted and introspective (a world of your own) Staring without blinking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ9OWMsJBTk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-_q-md80VQ

StrategiesKeep stress and anxiety low - exams / revision /strategies to avoid impulsivity revision schedule small, manageable chunks exam time break down question draw out time keeping in exam liaise with MHT on relaxation strategies. awareness of own feelings - anxiety levels rising.

2nd floor 1st floor

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Implications for Study Support

Is this familiar?

Perhaps we know morethan we thought.

We do have tools already.

How do we, as tutors, respond?

Attitude …

frustrationBehaviour …

irritation

Learning …

inadequate

Knowledge …

recognise the need to acquire it

Crisis response plan

Ensure you know the procedure of the organisation for crisis response. Emergency phone number? Support staff? Health centre? What’s your responsibility?

SAMARITANS08457 90 90 90

TutorsSpLD Mental Health

Conclusion

Many areas cross over. Where we talk of co-occurrence of SpLDs there is

co-occurrence of characteristics with mental health issues.

They may not be SpLD students but we can use our toolbox. We have to recognise their learning characteristics.

We should have the confidence to support.