As a supposed educator (my role has become solely classroom management) in further education focused on 15-17 year olds who have disengaged from school, I and my colleagues are being manipulated daily with young people who when challenged on standard engagement, attendance, basic decent behaviour and attempts to participate in any work cite mental health issues. They are then engaging with the many support services internally and being excused from any elements of being a student while receiving significant amounts of cash regardless of commitment. AIBU to think we have created a generation of excuses and a dire lack of commitment and resilience?
AIBU?
AIBU to think there is abuse of “mental health”
TwinklyPeachScroller · 27/03/2024 19:51
Am I being unreasonable?
644 votes. Final results.
POLLTwinklyPeachScroller · 27/03/2024 19:51
As a supposed educator (my role has become solely classroom management) in further education focused on 15-17 year olds who have disengaged from school, I and my colleagues are being manipulated daily with young people who when challenged on standard engagement, attendance, basic decent behaviour and attempts to participate in any work cite mental health issues. They are then engaging with the many support services internally and being excused from any elements of being a student while receiving significant amounts of cash regardless of commitment. AIBU to think we have created a generation of excuses and a dire lack of commitment and resilience?
dreamfield · 27/03/2024 19:58
focused on 15-17 year olds who have disengaged from school
Do you think your sample base for your assertion might be somewhat biased?
ceneta · 27/03/2024 20:01
Yes, it's a massive problem. And it makes it hugely difficult for those people who genuinely suffer serious mental health problems.
Feeling anxious about something is not 'suffering from anxiety!' It's normal!
ceneta · 27/03/2024 20:01
Yes, it's a massive problem. And it makes it hugely difficult for those people who genuinely suffer serious mental health problems.
Feeling anxious about something is not 'suffering from anxiety!' It's normal!
ceneta · 27/03/2024 20:01
Yes, it's a massive problem. And it makes it hugely difficult for those people who genuinely suffer serious mental health problems.
Feeling anxious about something is not 'suffering from anxiety!' It's normal!
Sirzy · 27/03/2024 20:06
Exactly, if everything was hunky dory then they wouldn’t be in such a setting.
dreamfield · 27/03/2024 19:58
focused on 15-17 year olds who have disengaged from school
Do you think your sample base for your assertion might be somewhat biased?
Octavia64 · 27/03/2024 20:17
Absolutely agree.
I have bad anxiety.
When it gets really bad I lose control of my body and have dissociative seizures just like epilepsy except they are caused by anxiety.
All those other people who think they have anxiety and just have panic attacks - pah! They do not know what true anxiety really is.
Only when they are in fear of their own life should it be called anxiety. They just aren't trying hard enough to mess their own lives up!
(This is sarcastic by the way. Just in case it needed pointing out.)
Caffeineneedednow · 27/03/2024 20:16
But it also exists in higher education where they are choosing to be there.
In our final year cohort 40% of the 150 students have what's called an individual learning plan, the majority of which are for anxiety. This means they don't need to attend class, they don't need to engage, they can do alternative assessments. I have heard students say to others ohh if you don't want to do that go talk to the welfare team and they give you an individual learning plan to say you don't have to.
It is absolutely being weponised by some students. Ironically avoidance ( our unis policy) is the worst thing you could possibly do for depression and anxiety and actually worsens symptoms.
Sirzy · 27/03/2024 20:06
Exactly, if everything was hunky dory then they wouldn’t be in such a setting.
dreamfield · 27/03/2024 19:58
focused on 15-17 year olds who have disengaged from school
Do you think your sample base for your assertion might be somewhat biased?
Flapearedknave · 27/03/2024 20:20
Does your institution not request medical evidence? Mine does.
Caffeineneedednow · 27/03/2024 20:16
But it also exists in higher education where they are choosing to be there.
In our final year cohort 40% of the 150 students have what's called an individual learning plan, the majority of which are for anxiety. This means they don't need to attend class, they don't need to engage, they can do alternative assessments. I have heard students say to others ohh if you don't want to do that go talk to the welfare team and they give you an individual learning plan to say you don't have to.
It is absolutely being weponised by some students. Ironically avoidance ( our unis policy) is the worst thing you could possibly do for depression and anxiety and actually worsens symptoms.
Sirzy · 27/03/2024 20:06
Exactly, if everything was hunky dory then they wouldn’t be in such a setting.
dreamfield · 27/03/2024 19:58
focused on 15-17 year olds who have disengaged from school
Do you think your sample base for your assertion might be somewhat biased?
Everythinggreen · 27/03/2024 20:23
100% and not just kids but adults too. I also feel the same way about the overuse of people self diagnosing ASD and ADHD.
MeadStMary · 27/03/2024 20:25
I work in FE and completely agree.
Some students genuinely have MH difficulties which affect their ability to access learning. But unfortunately they end up fading into the background because of the students who shout the loudest about their supposed MH problems that mean that they can't possibly do anything that they don't want to.
I also have a disproportionately large number of colleagues that always seem to not be able to do certain aspects of their job, or regularly call in sick, because of their mental health. Problem is they can't be challenged on it because you can never be sure if it's genuine and it would be really shitty to accuse those who are being genuine of lying.
Basically the people who take the piss make it really difficult for those with genuine MH problems.
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