Disabled student with mental health problems having to quit?

bestpud

I have similar issues with studying myself so I understand how you feel when it's not going well.

However I do think you need to take some responsibility for yourself.

I mean what difference would it have made to have a tutor email you? Would you have attended then?

What is stopping you emailing every now and again for an update on dates - they don't change often - why do you need someone to keep telling you the same information?

Or if you do need it then take some responsibility and ask for it - don't wait for people to come running as life isn't like that!

You may have difficulties but so do lots of others and there is a limit to the measures they can take for people who feel they are a special case. You can't expect them to bend over backwards for you - it's just not realistic!

caela_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The OU's Psychology degree has always been recognised by the BPS, as far as I know.

What are you planning to do with this degree that you require BPS recognition?

I'd like to work in clinical psychology, otherwise this type of degree can be limited.

caela_2

bestpud wrote: »

I have similar issues with studying myself so I understand how you feel when it's not going well.

However I do think you need to take some responsibility for yourself.

I mean what difference would it have made to have a tutor email you? Would you have attended then?

What is stopping you emailing every now and again for an update on dates - they don't change often - why do you need someone to keep telling you the same information?

Or if you do need it then take some responsibility and ask for it - don't wait for people to come running as life isn't like that!

You may have difficulties but so do lots of others and there is a limit to the measures they can take for people who feel they are a special case. You can't expect them to bend over backwards for you - it's just not realistic!

The thing is, I have asked for it. I don't want them to email me the same information repetitively, I just mean to keep in contact. Just to email me to see how things are progressing and see if anything else can be done. I find it difficult to contact them a lot of the time. It's weird to explain lol. I feel it would help if they could invest some interest in my progress, so that I have some inspiration to continue as motivation is a massive problem. It's something I've clarified to them that I need. I don't think it's unrealistic to email me perhaps once a month just to see how things are going and if I have been particularly struggling, to arrange some support together.

I don't know. If there was any support, something would have been done in the past six months. I literally haven't heard from them and when I have contacted them to ask about my results or my progress at uni, they act as if I'm being irrational. It's a case of bad organisation, all the students agree this is pretty much a trait of the uni. On top of that, I require a little extra support and that's not really being supplied either. It's all round fail.

bestpud

caela wrote: »

The thing is, I have asked for it. I don't want them to email me the same information repetitively, I just mean to keep in contact. Just to email me to see how things are progressing and see if anything else can be done. I find it difficult to contact them a lot of the time. It's weird to explain lol. I feel it would help if they could invest some interest in my progress, so that I have some inspiration to continue as motivation is a massive problem. It's something I've clarified to them that I need. I don't think it's unrealistic to email me perhaps once a month just to see how things are going and if I have been particularly struggling, to arrange some support together.

I don't know. If there was any support, something would have been done in the past six months. I literally haven't heard from them and when I have contacted them to ask about my results or my progress at uni, they act as if I'm being irrational. It's a case of bad organisation, all the students agree this is pretty much a trait of the uni. On top of that, I require a little extra support and that's not really being supplied either. It's all round fail.

I'm still not sure tutors can be expected to do that tbh.

You are past the spoon feeding stage and I honestly can't see what difference it would make if they do - I fear it still wouldn't be enough.

Student support is what you need and they should help you deal with the issues that make it hard for you to contact tutors and/or attend.

You've hardly been there - the tutors can't possibly even know you but you expect them to jolly you along anyway?

Why not contact a counsellor, mental health advisor, your support tutor...? Lots of people are trained to support you - lecturers are trained to lecture.

Have you been told to expect a refund as I'd be surprised if they will do that this late in the year?

caela_2

bestpud wrote: »

I'm still not sure tutors can be expected to do that tbh.

You are past the spoon feeding stage and I honestly can't see what difference it would make if they do - I fear it still wouldn't be enough.

Student support is what you need and they should help you deal with the issues that make it hard for you to contact tutors and/or attend.

You've hardly been there - the tutors can't possibly even know you but you expect them to jolly you along anyway?

Why not contact a counsellor, mental health advisor, your support tutor...? Lots of people are trained to support you - lecturers are trained to lecture.

Have you been told to expect a refund as I'd be surprised if they will do that this late in the year?

I have asked them about a refund in true to their character they have told me to wait a good few months while they chew the cud on it and decide who it is I need to speak to about it. The same way they waited 6 months to inform me of my mitigating circumstances.

I can see what you're saying, but from my point of view, I'm not 'past the spoon-feeding stage', I have mental health problem and require the consistent support of regular communication. It would help by keeping me in the loop, keeping me motivated and keeping me informed. I do not expect the tutors to do this single-handedly, they are in contact with disabled student services who I am enrolled with to help me as well. They are there to lecture and inform their students, that's all I ask of them, that they inform me of any extra notifications I might have missed in lectures (not every little point, but the necessary ones). I expect my personal tutor to maintain some communication with me also, as otherwise I really can't see what her role is. Otherwise, the support should be provided by student services. My point is that no-one appears to be providing the support. I am left to my own devices. This might be acceptable for the healthy student but when one has requested support, it's lacking.

My attendance is not something I'm in control of and I feel the tutors should make an effort with me regardless of whether or not I am able to make lectures.

I just don't think people grasp the nature of the problems associated with mental health. Even on this forum it appears people believe I should just contact them myself and attend lectures and blah blah blah but I'm not avoiding this in an effort to make my life difficult, rather, it's the nature of my problems. My mind is disorganised and I'll take any help I can get to help me structure my time at uni. I'm not talking about unreasonable measures, just anything, but for months on end, nothing has been done despite my numerous requests.

caela_2

Oh and just as a general reply to clarify, I get why people say to get professional help, say from a psychotherapist or something and this is something I have tried and exhausted in the past, with many different therapists for varying lengths of time. It does not work, in fact, it made me worse. That's just to explain why I'm not seeing someone now. I don't need all this fringe support if just the bare-bone basics were provided- I don't see why it would kill either my personal tutor, module leader, student services or lecturers to contact me maybe once in two semesters to see what's going on when I'm obviously struggling, having failed to attend any lectures for an entire year.

Student services offer me support such as a study skills tutor or mentor, which is ok in theory and in practise would be a useful supplement, but there is no actual primary support for that to be working with. Even student services haven't kept in contact.

** Btw, I hope I don't sound too grumpy, I'm really grateful to you all for your contributions. Just haven't slept yet and getting a bit frustrated! **

bitsandpieces

I think you may be coming at this the wrong way. If you want to continue on your current course, the best option may be to push disability support/student services to provide you with a mentor or support worker: they can then look over your course materials, contact your lecturers, etc. to make sure you are reminded about dates where necessary. This isn't generally something lecturers would do and it should be something that someone else can manage on your behalf - as much as anything else, lecturers aren't necessarily the most organised people in the world :rotfl:

On the other hand, if you want to study without attending lectures this is something that OU are very well set-up for. You might also save a significant amount in fees. Seems worth serious consideration.

caela_2

bitsandpieces wrote: »

I think you may be coming at this the wrong way. If you want to continue on your current course, the best option may be to push disability support/student services to provide you with a mentor or support worker: they can then look over your course materials, contact your lecturers, etc. to make sure you are reminded about dates where necessary. This isn't generally something lecturers would do and it should be something that someone else can manage on your behalf - as much as anything else, lecturers aren't necessarily the most organised people in the world :rotfl:

On the other hand, if you want to study without attending lectures this is something that OU are very well set-up for. You might also save a significant amount in fees. Seems worth serious consideration.

Some very sound advice there which comes as a relief lol. I think you've hit the nail on the head with that! :beer:

bestpud

bitsandpieces wrote: »

I think you may be coming at this the wrong way. If you want to continue on your current course, the best option may be to push disability support/student services to provide you with a mentor or support worker: they can then look over your course materials, contact your lecturers, etc. to make sure you are reminded about dates where necessary. This isn't generally something lecturers would do and it should be something that someone else can manage on your behalf - as much as anything else, lecturers aren't necessarily the most organised people in the world :rotfl:

On the other hand, if you want to study without attending lectures this is something that OU are very well set-up for. You might also save a significant amount in fees. Seems worth serious consideration.

Yes, that's what I was trying to say but you've put it much better! This is definitely something disability support should be doing.

caela - I understand your frustration but I also understand mental illness. Sometimes people assume those of us with a more pro-active outlook have no knowledge or understanding of the problem but I can assure that is not always the case. Some of us have just found more effective ways of accessing what we need and know that sometimes means leaving our comfort zone.

zzzLazyDaisy

The OU psychology course has always been recognised by the BPS

Extract from OU website:-

Professionally recognised degree

Our BSc Hons Psychology (B07) is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) to provide Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). This is the first step on the path leading to professional qualifications in psychology, and to chartered psychologist status.