Education
Student counselling and support services have reported that the number of students who are having mental health problems during their time in higher education (such as at University) is increasing.
Experiencing mental health problems and the impact that these symptoms can have on your capabilities during your studies can be very disruptive and distressing.
This experience can also be made much harder to deal with due to the added stresses from changes to lifestyle that this time can involve; such as through moving away from home and family and friends, exams and academic work pressures and financial worries that all are common experiences as a student.
Studying is also a popular option for people recovering and learning to live with mental illness, as during this time many people decide to go back to further education. For some a spell of mental illness may lead them to decide to train for a profession or to train for a change in job – as a result of the experience of mental illness many people wish to become more involved in this line of work, and in supporting others with similar problems.
What to study?
When you decide to study you will need to know what you want to study, whether you have the right qualification and capabilities to study that subject. Also if you are not studying just for enjoyment or as a hobby, what are your chances and options of employment after you have completed the course? This is important if you are studying for a job or profession, as sometimes very specific courses are needed.
It might be worth considering the following points when planning the direction you want to take:
- What areas of study are you most interested in?
- What career options can you identify in these areas? Are you aware of all the options?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What grades can you aspire to at GCSE / A-Level or other qualification levels?
- Which sectors offer the best employment prospects?
It might be useful to contact the Jobcentre Plus to speak to a careers advisor about your options. You could also try reading through some prospectuses or looking up different subjects on the internet to see what you are interested in.
You should also think about whether you want to study full-time or part-time, and carefully consider the costs and lifestyle requirements associated with this.
National Advice Service Factsheets
