Recognising barriers: Mental health difficulties

Higher education is particularly strewn with barriers for some students with mental health difficulties. Many have no visible disability, and it can be difficult to identify the barriers to learning that exist as they vary so much from one person to another.

Barriers to learning for students with mental health difficulties may be related to their symptoms or to the side effects of their medication. Prescribed drugs may have unwelcome side effects , both psychological (e.g. increased anxiety, disorientation) and physical (e.g. stiffness, nausea, dizziness) that may have a significant impact on daily living and study.

Barriers to learning can also be due to a university environment that does not recognise and meet their needs. They may be directly related to study but can also be due to problems with everyday living.

Students may require time away from their studies for medical, psychiatric or therapeutic appointments – it is not always possible to fit these around their timetable.

As a tutor, try to understand these barriers and plan an appropriate and inclusive approach to your teaching.

Difficult to manage symptoms

Psychological distress and other difficult to manage symptoms can make it extremely difficult to concentrate on learning. Symptoms include anxiety and panic, disorientation, extreme emotions such as sadness or elation, and altered perception such as hearing voices. Unmanageable symptoms may cause major problems with attendance. Students coping with distress and mood swings may feel ‘unsafe’ and unable to cope with appearing in public or using public transport to get to university.

Unrealistic or inappropriate expectations

Some students with mental health difficulties find it difficult to see the ‘big picture’ or to make rational judgements about what is required from them as a student, which may lead to difficulties in setting achievable goals. This can also be one of the reasons why some students with mental health difficulties do not make the best use of the support strategies that are available to them.

Memory, concentration and organisation

Difficulties with memory and concentration can have a big impact on study and may affect both academic learning and the ability to keep appointments and meet deadlines. Students with these difficulties may not understand what is required of them. Difficulties with organisation are likely to adversely affect time management and planning.

Sleep problems and fatigue

Problems in these areas can seriously affect attendance and punctuality, particularly for early morning lectures, and can impact on staying power and the ability to meet challenging deadlines or complete complex or large tasks.

Social difficulties

Many students with mental health difficulties have problems communicating with others, making friends and sustaining relationships, and may not behave appropriately in social contexts. As a consequence they can feel isolated from their peers and very lonely.These problems can also present a huge barrier to learning in modern universities, where effective communication of ideas and collaborative work is essential.