Imperial College Disability Advisory Service Disability related study barriers Successfully engaging in degree level studies The DAS is here to help students archive their potential despite encountering barriers to study associated with disability. We: offer a high quality advice service help to students to access the individual support available to them both within College and externally (eg. DSA) provide study support with experienced specific learning difficulties tutors and/or study mentors DAS

Mentoring is... Practical one to one Study support designed to facilitate the student’s independent self-management of the obstacles presented by enduring mental health difficulties and disabilities.

What is the aim of Mentoring? To support students to identify any obstacles to effective study presented by their disability. To facilitate the student’s thought process in order to identify solutions. To help the student implement good study strategies. To strongly encourage students to take responsibility for their own health and study. To be clear from the outset where the boundaries of mentoring lie

What obstacles may students managing mental health difficulties face? College Environment Anxiety Specific Experience of Mental Health Anxiety Side Effects of Medication Anxiety

How might these obstacles affect study? LecturesGroup Work Academic Support ExamsAssignments Social Interaction Personal Support

What can students use mentoring sessions for? Study Skills Support Study Techniques Systems Surrounding Study Study Process

What can’t the mentor do? The Study Mentor does not engage in therapeutic support. The Study Mentor does not provide personal support. The Study Mentor does not provide medical support. The Study Mentor does not deal with emergencies. Students in crisis could be referred to the Imperial College Health Centre, with their consent. In the event that the student is deemed to present a threat to themselves or to others please see Imperial College London: Mental Health Difficulties Protocol,

Independent Self-Management Mentoring seeks to support the student in developing their ability to independently manage their study and health and is based upon a contract in which the student acknowledges their own responsibility to take action in these areas.

Mental Health Support - The Health Centre's Perspective

Background Imperial is a toxic enviroment for mental health Pressure triggers stress, which triggers the emergence of mental illlness in those who are vulnerable The pressures of the environment are not helped by current social and economic pressures, nor by unrealistic expectations of what can be delivered

What sort of mental health problems do we see?  Anxiety  Depression  OCD  Bipolar Disorder  Stress Reactions  Eating Disorders  PTSD  Bereavement Reactions  ADHD  Aspergers  Transient mental health difficulties

What Can the Health Centre Offer  A multidisciplinary team with lots of expertise  Hopefully a diagnosis - stress, distress, mental illness  In-house psychiatric assessment where there is: 1. diagnostic uncertainty, 2. lack of response to treatment, 3. high risk, 4. need for a tertiary referral e.g. ADHD/Aspergers  Referal to local mental health services for those at high risk or with complex needs e.g. Crisis team/CMHT/long term psychotherapy  Referal to in-house counselling, psychotherapy or CBT  Liaison with or referal to other Imperial services - DAS, SCS  Liaison with departments re exams, mitigating circumstances, fitness to study etc

Important Messages  Managing expectations is sometimes very difficult  We cannot offer open access. It is not a drop in service and those with urgent problems can be seen in the morning or afternoon triage clinics  People with suicidal ideas don't always need to be seen immediately. Those with active intent do.  If you are worried discuss the individual with the duty doctor  A certificcate for mitigating circumstances is not an emergency  A patient's perspective of what is an emergency may be different from ours  Immediate (or rather early) assessment is available, immediate treatment is not - there is a 6 week wait for in-housepsychotherapy, a 4-6 month wait for in-house CBT and a 6 to 12 month wait for a tertiary referral for Aspergers or ADHD and a 3-6 month wait for long term psychotherapy

How do you manage those with mental health difficulties Be compassionate, but objective Know your own limits Know who to refer to and how If you don't know what to do, know who to ask Set boundaries - don't be a magician and don't be manipulated Consider whether those who require too much of your time are really fit to be studying Look after yourself!