I've applied for DSA regarding mental health problems and I was just wondering if anyone else had? If so what for? And how to you think DSA will help? I've got my assessment in a couple of weeks and I'm not quite sure what I'm asking for. Thanks xx
What do you think you'd need?
Maybe a dictaphone for if you're not well enough in lectures; pay for a study mentor type person, a laptop if you get aches and stuff with depression.
Write a list of things you'll find hard at uni, and then a list of ways you could make them better.
I would of thought that the type of questions they would ask is how your mental illness would affect your studies. As a result they would be more clearer as to the type of support that is available for you.
I thought that I couldn't apply for DSA until about March, same time as the student loan. Was this on the official website? (I'm not being accusatory; I genuinely don't know! I'm kind of unwell right now, otherwise would try to research this myself.) For DSA, I think you will have a needs assessment - at the university, or at a centre somewhere - they'd go through possible help you could need.
Here's some of the things I was thinking of, for my own mental health things: I think a laptop/PC for working in your room if you can't go out, extra time on library book loans, funding for photocopying perhaps, being able to choose your own room, possibly needing/wanting an ensuite (it can be difficult to face others or have the energy to wash anyway, never mind if you might worry about holding up other people or having to walk past them, talk to them, etc.). Dictaphone for lectures, lecture notes if you can't get there, extra time allowed for exams if you're in a real dip. Erm.
There may be more things, I will come back if I think of anything.
I thought that I couldn't apply for DSA until about March, same time as the student loan. Was this on the official website? (I'm not being accusatory; I genuinely don't know! I'm kind of unwell right now, otherwise would try to research this myself.) For DSA, I think you will have a needs assessment - at the university, or at a centre somewhere - they'd go through possible help you could need.
Here's some of the things I was thinking of, for my own mental health things: I think a laptop/PC for working in your room if you can't go out, extra time on library book loans, funding for photocopying perhaps, being able to choose your own room, possibly needing/wanting an ensuite (it can be difficult to face others or have the energy to wash anyway, never mind if you might worry about holding up other people or having to walk past them, talk to them, etc.). Dictaphone for lectures, lecture notes if you can't get there, extra time allowed for exams if you're in a real dip. Erm.
There may be more things, I will come back if I think of anything.
From what I understand is that you can claim DSA at the same time as Student and Maintenance Loans/Grants from Mid February. Also just to add, everyone needs vary from person to person, what support that is available to you may not be necessary to another person.
Oh, thank you. I wasn't sure about dates of things. Yeah, I was just listing various things that I could need because of depression/mental health stuff that the OP might find a helpful trigger to think of other things they might need.
Thanks for the replies. I'm already at uni in my first year the DSA stuff just took ages to come through.
I sort of don't know what type of possible support there might be so I wouldn't know what I was aiming for, if you get what I mean. And to be honest everything is hard and I go up and down all the time. I have real trouble addmitting that there is anything wrong and that i need help at all so I'm inclined to pretend it's all good.
What's a dictaphone? I was given a mentor last term but didn't find it helpful, in fact it was more stressful. Stuff I've been diagnosed with; dissociation, depression (and anxiety), post traumatic stress disorder, i have problems with suicide/self harm and i'm a complete insomniac, oh and panic attacks.
concentration is a friggin nightmare, getting out of bed is a mission, but it's not like i can get a machine to get me into uni...not sure. x
getting out of bed is a mission, but it's not like i can get a machine to get me into uni...not sure. x
the needs assessment is really good in suggesting things for you, they sugested for me things i hadnt thought of.
as well as recieveing the dsa, i also worked as a support worker tho, providing some of the people support recomended for other disabled students. one of the things i did do was to help someone with depression and other mental health issues, who sturggled to get out of bed in the morning, calling her in the morning, (on those she had to be in uni) and going to her flat to make sure she had managed to get up, and walking to uni with her. at the same time she had requested her flatmates did not know she had any problems so they didnt know anything about it. not sure how me doing this helped her, but this was something she had requested/been offered.
something to bear in mind. also remember if you are offered any support you dont want or think wouldnt be helpful you can say no too. at the assessment its not you asking for support, its them going through a lot of questions about how you study, identifying what your problems are, where you need help, and how you have coped/not coped in the past. they will be very experienced and will be able to suggest lots of things to help.
sounds weird but i recomend thinking about where your problems are, what exactly you need help with - e.g. cant concentrate, (a dictaphone / breaks in exams might be sugested), cant get up in the morning (maybe photocopying, so you can photocopy other peoples notes)... etc
I've applied for DSA regarding mental health problems and I was just wondering if anyone else had? If so what for? And how to you think DSA will help? I've got my assessment in a couple of weeks and I'm not quite sure what I'm asking for. Thanks xx
I get a mentor paid for through my DSA and I've found it very helpful, and I also have the option of a notetaker for early morning lectures, as my depression is worst in the mornings, but for mental health problems a lot of the help I've needed has been directly from my university rather than the DSA, like special exam arrangements and extended coursework deadlines.
I get DSA for a mental health issue - an eating disorder and depression. As someone said the needs assessment is really helpful, especially if you are not sure what specific support you may need. I have been given a study mentor which i am told is something they often offer those with mental health issues as aposed to medical ones. I also got specialist computer software to help me plan essays, a dictaphone to tape record lectures as i find it hard to concentrate often, and a book and photocopy allowance which helps me with reading and catching up if i miss lessons.
Good luck . I hope that DSA will make uni life a little easier for you. Feel free to pm me if you want to.
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