The Student Room Group

We need a mental health university league table

Post here if you are a uni student, have a long-term mental health condition, and receive good support from your uni.

I have anxiety, an eating disorder and emerging EUPD/BPD. At the moment I am nowhere near being able to live independently and going to university because of my conditions. Not that long ago I was an inpatient in a couple of psychiatric hospitals. From an academic perspective (if my mental health wasn't a problem) I'd be 100% applying for Oxbridge and the likes because academically it's within my reach. But right now I still have a long way to recover (to give you a sense of things for example right now I'm not allowed anywhere by myself and I rely heavily on my mum and my therapists' support on a daily basis and with daily tasks). Meanwhile other people my age are preparing for uni applications, learning to drive, etc. etc. I feel like I'm years behind everyone else my age. Tbh often I'm more 'high maintenance' than a child.

Obviously I don't want to be like this forever and want (and need) to recover so that at some point in the future I'm able to live independently and go to university.

I want to know if there's anyone out there who was in a similar position but has managed to go to uni and get better despite this.

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I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in my first year at UCL. I had to repeat first year due to mental health and being in and out of psych hospitals. But I managed to graduate and also did a masters with relative interference from hospitals/mental health in general. I'm now hoping to start my PhD :smile:
Reply 2
Original post by Noodlzzz
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in my first year at UCL. I had to repeat first year due to mental health and being in and out of psych hospitals. But I managed to graduate and also did a masters with relative interference from hospitals/mental health in general. I'm now hoping to start my PhD :smile:


Thank you for sharing! I'm glad you managed to graduate and I hope you get your PhD too. Do you feel UCL has supported you well and if so, how?
Original post by Noodlzzz
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in my first year at UCL. I had to repeat first year due to mental health and being in and out of psych hospitals. But I managed to graduate and also did a masters with relative interference from hospitals/mental health in general. I'm now hoping to start my PhD :smile:


Thank you for sharing that! I’m so glad you managed to graduate and are continuing your studies despite your difficulties. Do you feel that UCL has supported you well with your mental health problems, and if so, how?
I was under the Early Intervention Service when I was at uni for emerging psychosis. They were pretty helpful for a while, taking me to the supermarket/out for food so I'd be able to eat. My uni was pretty great too, they made all kinds of adjustments to help me get through; like extra time on exams, exams in a smaller room, extensions on work, not penalizing me for skipping seminars/lectures, and I had a specific mental health support worker.

I got a 2:2 in the end so not great but I did get through, it only took me 2 dropouts and 5 years. :tongue: Got a master's after also with accommodations - it was a taught masters and after a few months I wasn't able to attend classes or do the work because of my MH, so they let me move in with my mother far away and teach myself with the powerpoints/emailing my professors. I also got a year extension on my dissertation which was invaluable and I would never have managed without.
Original post by Sabertooth
I was under the Early Intervention Service when I was at uni for emerging psychosis. They were pretty helpful for a while, taking me to the supermarket/out for food so I'd be able to eat. My uni was pretty great too, they made all kinds of adjustments to help me get through; like extra time on exams, exams in a smaller room, extensions on work, not penalizing me for skipping seminars/lectures, and I had a specific mental health support worker.

I got a 2:2 in the end so not great but I did get through, it only took me 2 dropouts and 5 years. :tongue: Got a master's after also with accommodations - it was a taught masters and after a few months I wasn't able to attend classes or do the work because of my MH, so they let me move in with my mother far away and teach myself with the powerpoints/emailing my professors. I also got a year extension on my dissertation which was invaluable and I would never have managed without.


Thank you for sharing! I’m glad you were supported by your uni. If you don’t mind me asking, what uni was it?
I had depression, social anxiety and emerging BPD at uni and the wellbeing service there was fantastic. I went to UWE.

I swear The Tab had a table ranking different universities regarding their mental health support not so long ago?
Original post by Anonymous
Thank you for sharing! I'm glad you managed to graduate and I hope you get your PhD too. Do you feel UCL has supported you well and if so, how?


Not really tbh. I went to a different uni for my masters (Kingston) and they were wonderful with exam arrangements, pastoral care, talking to my tutors etc. Much better experience than at UCL.
Reply 8
Original post by bones-mccoy
I had depression, social anxiety and emerging BPD at uni and the wellbeing service there was fantastic. I went to UWE.

I swear The Tab had a table ranking different universities regarding their mental health support not so long ago?


https://thetab.com/2017-mental-health-rankings

Ranking for 2017
Reply 9
My university was amazing with dealing with my MH issues (severe complex PTSD, an eating disorder, depression and anxiety). I managed to graduate with a first in the end as they even allowed me to resit an exam uncapped, this was due to extenuating circumstances that exacerbated my MH issues (and physical health issues) in my final year (my mum was diagnosed with cancer and I lost one of my best friends). Regardless though, I still would've graduated with a 2:1, which would've been impossible without all the support my university gave me.

I got a lot of different things put in place to help me cope at unviersity: counselling, mentoring, a support worker, adjustments for exams and coursework, among other things. I was also under the local CMHT in my second year and a specialist MH team in my final year, they were less useful, but had their place.
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 10
Original post by Pathway
My university was amazing with dealing with my MH issues (severe complex PTSD, an eating disorder, depression and anxiety). I managed to graduate with a first in the end as they even allowed me to resit an exam uncapped due to extenuating circumstances that exacerbated my MH issues (and physical health issues) in my final year (my mum was diagnosed with cancer and I lost one of my best friends). Regardless though, I still would've graduated with a 2:1, which would've been impossible without all the support my university gave me.

I got a lot of different things put in place to help me cope at unviersity: counselling, mentoring, a support worker, adjustments for exams and coursework, among other things. I was also under the local CMHT in my second year and a specialist MH team in my final year, they were less useful, but had their place.


What university did you go to, if you don’t mind me asking?
Original post by regina_tay
What university did you go to, if you don’t mind me asking?


Essex. I graduated in 2016.


Oh wow I had no idea about this! Thank you so much!!
Reply 13
Original post by sonia.ahd
Oh wow I had no idea about this! Thank you so much!!


Me neither until someone mentioned it
So I did some research and turns out that in 2018 UCL with be piloting a ‘Complex Case Clinic’ for people with the most complex difficulties:

"In 2018, UCL is aiming to pilot a Complex Case Clinic to better support students with the most complex mental health conditions, including students with suicidal behaviours, substance abuse, self-harm and mood disorders. Academic experts from UCL’s Division of Psychology and Language Sciences will manage the clinic and will offer a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) treatment model.”

As someone who is currently undergoing DBT as I struggle with EUPD/BPD, this is actually so good to hear!
I know the tab has done a mental health survey!! Of course it could be up to all sorts of factors however, you never know how many people are asking for help in the first place, how easy help is to access, if somewhere has more people who have been "high achievers" and at greater risk of perfectionism and anxiety which can develop... lots of critical points but here's a link

https://thetab.com/2017-mental-health-rankings

if you google "the tab *uni* mental health" you can find more detailed articles :smile:
Anyone have experience with severe/long-standing mental health issues who went/goes to Oxford or Cambridge? How is the support there?
Original post by sonia.ahd
Anyone have experience with severe/long-standing mental health issues who went/goes to Oxford or Cambridge? How is the support there?


The_Lonely_Goatherd
X


may be able to help
Original post by sonia.ahd
Anyone have experience with severe/long-standing mental health issues who went/goes to Oxford or Cambridge? How is the support there?


I did my undergrad at Oxford. I personally wouldn't/can't recommend it as a good place to go for those with any kind of mental health issue but especially severe/long-standing. Can't speak for Cambridge but I imagine it could be similar :sadnod:
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
I did my undergrad at Oxford. I personally wouldn't/can't recommend it as a good place to go for those with any kind of mental health issue but especially severe/long-standing. Can't speak for Cambridge but I imagine it could be similar :sadnod:


Thank you for your reply! Would you mind telling me more about why you wouldn't recommend it, and is there a different uni that is better with mental health support (in your experience)? (You could also message me if you'd rather not go into details publicly)

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