The Student Room Group

UCAS stuff/Mental health.

This is in H&R for a reason, bear with me.

Theres a box about mental health and disabilities, and I'm unsure whether or not to tick it.

I was admitted to an EDU two years ago, and although I'm better than I was then, I'm still diagnosed with the same ED - EDnos.
I also see a psychotherapist three times a week (unrelated to the ED), but I haven't "officially" been diagnosed with anything.
I may not tick it, especially as I haven't been diagnosed with anything, but the fact I see a Psychotherapist three times a week on the NHS (Its hard enough to get an NHS psychotherapist, but I see them three times a week on top of that)

Any advice?
To tick or not to tick, that is the question.
Reply 1
I wouldn't bother to be honest, the UCAS form isn't too important.

Maybe consider sticking it on your final uni health form though...
Reply 2
I'm just completing my UCAS application now!

Anyway, I would advise that you tick it, the purpose of that box is so that universities you are applying to can see if you have any special needs, and therefore make allowances/arrangements. They're not allowed to discriminate against you because you ticked the box.
I didn't tick it, I just let my firm choice know when I'd made my grades.
Reply 4
skuesey
I'm just completing my UCAS application now!

Anyway, I would advise that you tick it, the purpose of that box is so that universities you are applying to can see if you have any special needs, and therefore make allowances/arrangements. They're not allowed to discriminate against you because you ticked the box.


I'd advise you not to tick it.

Either way at a later date the Uni will ask you for special needs / disability info. - Like, UCL has just asked me for such info and I didn't tick any special needs / disability boxes on my UCAS form.
Reply 5
It depends...They cant refuse to accept you onto the majority of courses because of it... though they will have to take it into account while you are at uni.
However if you were applying to medicine, dentistry, law or something like that I definitely wouldnt mention it. They would reject you more than likely if they knew (and what they dont know doesnt hurt them!).
I like other peoples ideas about not mentioning it on UCAS, but do on the uni health form.
Reply 6
I've got anorexia mate and had to admit to that when doing A levels in case the OCD linked with the ED - or just my poor health at the time, due to stress - in any way affected my exam performances/results. As a result, I got sent the Disability Benefits package thingy. But I'm not going for it - I've been on Disability Living Allowance for a while now, and feel like a major screw as it is coz OCD stops me working more than 2 hours/day (as a cleaner) coz I can't stand interruptions to my routines - I work alone as a cleaner, no one can bother me coz they've gone home, I'm totally useless at interacting with customers too. Hope that one day I WON'T be so obsessive about routines and will be able to work in a more flexible environment, say, as a waitress again. I did for a while, but was lousy, even tho it was good fun and I got tons of tips - I got fired coz was just too obsessive about cleaning, got upset when customers were rude (I was really quite rude back, no inhibitions whatsoever sometimes, the amount of apologies I make in one day is astounding) etc. But nah, unless you're in serious financial crisis coz of your ED, don't bother with benefits
Reply 7
But thats the thing, its totally unrelated to the ED, and I'm not asking with benefits, I was asking whether or not to tick the box about mental health.

Thanks anyway though, I'm sorry that things are so tough with you.
Reply 8
I'd advise you not to tick it, but to point it out to your uni on whatever forms they send once they've accepted you. If you don't actually have a diagnosed condition, there's no need to give away any more than you have to.

UCAS forms, strange to think that I was doing all this a year ago! Thank God that's over.
jennyflake

However if you were applying to medicine, dentistry, law or something like that I definitely wouldnt mention it. They would reject you more than likely if they knew (and what they dont know doesnt hurt them!).


For courses that require occupational health approval then lying itself is grounds for withdrawing your place/throwing you off the course. Having a history of a physical or mental health disorder is not, if you're upfront & they think you're currently well enough to do the course & likely to be found to be fit to practise. The number of healthcare professionals with a history of ED is actually quite high my occupational health letters said...

The academic & occupational health decisions are separate processes.