OU and mental health

[Justcarrymehome]

I’ve signed up for year 2 of Open University which starts in October, after completing year 1 in May. I’m doing a business degree which wasn’t my first choice but it was a choice between a hobby degree or one to improve my career options so here we are. Due to this not being what I’m interested in and having no experience of business or management I’ve started worrying already. My module websites opened today and looking at them I feel so stupid and well hopeless. I understand that I will learn as I go but it’s giving me a headache already and I haven’t even started yet.

In October last year I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and was on medication for six months, in April the decision was made after those 6 months to stop the medication. I was feeling good but over the past 2 months I’ve been feeling bad to the point of just wanting to go to sleep and not wake up. I’m due to get married in October so not sure if this is contributing to the stress and anxiety.

That’s some background now to my AIBU. Would IBU to defer year 2 until I get my metal health in check even though this would be more time added until I can improve my career and get out of my dead end job? I need to make a decision on this by the 30th September and I can’t seem to think clearly.

Could you split your modules so you do 30 credits this year and 30 next year to complete year 2? Would you feel up to doing that?

If not, there's no shame in waiting until you are in a better place mentally if you want to wait.

Do the OU know you have mental health difficulties? If not, it will be worth letting them know. If you do go ahead to study and need a extension on MH grounds, it will be easier, though ime they are very understanding.

Also, the OU is signed up to the Big White Wall, an online mental health support. You can access it for free as a student and could be a means of additional support to you.

Good luck with your decision, but do what is best for you and dont burn yourself out

Sorry 60 credits this year, and 60 next year i mean! Or if there any 30 point modules, could you split year 2 a bit further into while you get yourself in a better place?

Not unreasonable at all, I defered year before last due to mental health reasons, I was diagnosed with stress and depression while doing my 4th year of my criminology degree, I went back last year, but had to defer again for mental health reasons again. I've decided to take a longer break this year too, as I have way too much on my plate, as I will also have a newborn in the coming months. The ou understand, you get 16 years to complete your degree. Take the time for you and go back when you feel ready, but between now and then, so you don't get out of the habit, do a few of the openlearn free courses, there's hundreds of them to pick from.

You have til the 30th September, I would do the first weeks reading and then see how you feel, I always feel out of my depth looking at the module website until I get started. If you still feel the same after a week then of course you aren't unreasonable to defer, your mental health is way more important than any degree.