Mental health - university choices and applications

[FoffFoffFoff]

I found a thread from last year that I was going to resurrect, but decided better form to start my own.

Dc in y12->13, severe anxiety and some depression. Quite young for age (not going to take a year out, that would make the anxiety worse). Social anxiety also.

Assume campus universities better suited than city universities? Dc aiming for RG-type universities.

Please share the names of any universities that your DC with MH issues have found good. Any to avoid?

Preferably in England as don't want DC to be too far away and not be able to easily reach/return if there is a crisis.

Previous thread I read also said to declare these MH issues on UCAS form - will that limit their acceptances to course directors with supportive attitudes? Guess better to rule out unsupportive courses, but would rather know in advance so as not to waste a choice.

Most open days currently online so can't just wander up and ask.

One of the software products DD uses highlights text word by word encouraging the reader to keep reading (rather than getting caught in a loop). The overlays make text generally easier to read.

Thanks, GnomeDePlume.
I will ask DC when they get home why they find reading on screen so difficult and that might help identify tools to help.

But if DC does qualify for DSA that will help cover a printer and cartridges to print out all the material that universities assume they will read onscreen.

Timeforachangetoday12
Thanks for giving your DD's experience. I know what you mean about improvement when not in school. I have had a glimpse of a happier DC this summer holiday, then the anxiety again at prospect of year 13.

Part of me wonders if the university system focussing on learning and studying rather than exams might suit DC better (I know there are exams at university, but from my experience you don't spend the whole year focussing on them like you do in UK schools from year 11 onwards).

I really must contact the possible university choices and get more information. Current delay caused by DC not quite sure of what course they will do.

Limiting factor also which universities are local to oneself and whether they offer the subject DC wants to study.

Some courses have moved away from exams to extended essays or other forms of assessment during the course, due to the pandemic, or open book exams. Dd had no exams last year and seemingly same this as far as she can tell. This may reverse and for some subjects not be possible , but may be worth due consideration when comparing one course/uni to another.

Dyslexia Ds had a software programme via DSA that coloured the background of the screen which worked for him, although overlays did not help at all.

At what point would you contact the university of your child struggled with mental health? When applying / once offers received / once accepted/ when starting?

Or do we just not mention it?

My Dd has put it on her ucas form. Logic says if it puts them off making an offer, it is not the right place for her.

Having been utterly failed by our local services and CAMHS, DD sought and got excellent support at St Andrews Student Services and in particular from the local NHS mental health services there.

@NCTDN my DS declared it on his UCAS form as a disability. We figured it would help him to get the support he needed rather than be disadvantageous in any way.

I would strongly recommend Lancaster ,beautiful campus ,collegiate system gives the student a sense of belonging to a certain cohort and friendly rivalry between colleges. The accommodation is lovely with each college having their own area ,facilities for washing and socialising etc. Lancaster definitely appeals to many students who enjoy a quite lifestyle with stunning countryside.
Basically if you want to party you definitely can but if you don’t, there is so much more to do and you don’t stand out as being boring etc.
My son did enjoy partying and going off out into the countryside.
Lancaster is a lovely,quaint safe town but only a train ride away from bigger cities.

student minds could be useful to check out

I recommend University of Bath. DD is there. She did not have a diagnosed MH isuue but has some anxious tendencies so I did want a university that scored highly for mental health services incase being away from hone triggered a downward spiral.

I believe somewhere (a newspaper?) did a freedom of information request a few years ago to find out how quickly universities arranged counseling for students having difficulties and Bath came out near the top as being very responsive and fast. There were other measures too. I'll see if I can find the FOI article.

My DD is in accommodation sharing with a very large number. That is probably something to avoid if your Dd has social anxiety. Bath do quiet accommodation. It ought not to be detrimental in making friends, as there are many other avenues to make connections. It's a compact campus and so settling in to day to day uni life is very straightforward. It's hard to get lost! And the whole surrounding area is so green and beautiful.

In my DDs huge flat there is one girl who has a studio flat within their flat due to her anxiety. I'm not sure if recommend that, cas the flat overall is noisy and chaotic at times, but it at least shows bath uni must take those things in to consideration when allocating accommodation.

DD is adamant it's not going on her ucas form.